Mmegi
Features

A budget on the brink

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 170 Views |
Balancing act: Gaolathe delivered his second budget speech on Monday
Balancing act: Gaolathe delivered his second budget speech on Monday

Draft estimates released this week suggest that government will seek P26.6 billion in net borrowings locally and externally to cover the deficit in 2026-27. Each thebe comes at an interest cost as well as the risk that any abuse, inefficiency or misspending could trigger a debt crisis, writes MBONGENI MGUNI

In the last nine financial years, the budget has run consecutive deficits amounting to hundreds of billions of Pula, each one contributing to the draining of government’s savings and necessitating increasing levels of public debt.

The upcoming 2026-27 financial year, which kicks off on April 1, will not be different and is expected to incur a mammoth deficit of P26.4 billion or nearly nine percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

You may also like this

Softer spending eases 2025-26 deficit by 36%

Mbongeni Mguni |
04 September 2026
Tightrope act: Gaolathe and his lieutenants have kickstarted the 2027-2028 budget cycle

Why Botswana is Africa’s next financial gatewayB2

LAWRENCE MUTSUNGE NAZARE |
28 August 2026
Going big: Nazare believes Botswana holds strong potential for capital raising in the region

BITC, BIUST join forces to fast-track Botswana’s STEM economy

kutlo moagi |
21 August 2026
Reaching out: BITC is the country’s investment promotion and trade agency
Latest Stories
Regulating: The central bank keeps its eye on key trends in the banking sector PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Bank arrears improve

Mbongeni Mguni | 35 m ago

Fairground CEO exits after eight years

Correspondent | 38 m ago

ACE-031 Peptide: Myostatin Pathways and Expanding Frontiers in Regenerative Research

correspondent | 2 h ago

Nomy Rejects Benchwarmer Position, Loses Right to Participate in Big Brother Naija Season 11

correspondent | 2d ago

ACE-031 Peptide: Myostatin Pathways and Expanding Frontiers in Regenerative Research

correspondent | 4 h ago

Revenge, Secrets and Forbidden Love Take Centre Stage in Novelas+ New Telenovela My Secret Truth

correspondent | 1d ago

Ramoreboli exits Zebras hours after squad announcement

Larona Makhaiza | 2d ago

South Korean killer’s mitigation fails, sent to death row

Pini Bothoko | 2d ago
Read Print Edition
front page 1
Editor's Comment
Rising abortion figures demand urgent action

Instead, they should serve as a warning to health authorities, community leaders, and policymakers that something is not right. According to the Palapye District Development Committee’s latest report, 130 abortion cases were recorded between April and June 2026.On the face of it, the overall figure may represent a decline from the preceding quarter. However, going deeper into the figures, the monthly trend tells a different and more worrying...

The Monitor Editor | 08 September 2026
Selefu
No Image
Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up
Explore Subscribe to Mmegi Online
Receive latest and breaking news via email
About us

Mmegi is the leading independent source of breaking news, latest news, current
affairs, Politics, Business, Sport, debates, analysis, and entertainment news in Botswana.

Latest News
News
Business
Sport
Lifestyle
Features
Opinion & Analysis
Blogs
Sponsored
World
Full Picture
Featured Video
Classified
© 2020 - Dikgang Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved.