Mmegi

Key oversights, insufficiently addressed issues in Budget Speech

Setting policy: Gaolathe PIC KENNEDY RAMOKONE
Setting policy: Gaolathe PIC KENNEDY RAMOKONE

The 2025/2026 Budget Speech delivered by Botswana’s Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe, outlines a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing the country’s economic challenges and setting the stage for long-term growth.

The speech highlights several positive developments, including the successful renegotiation of the diamond agreement with De Beers, which is expected to bolster Botswana’s position in the global diamond market.

Additionally, the government’s commitment to diversifying the economy through investments in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy is commendable. The proposed increase in old age pensions and the introduction of a targeted monthly allowance for newborns are also steps in the right direction, reflecting a focus on social welfare and inclusivity.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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