Gov't rolls out P1.3bn bailout for businesses

Parliamentarians in September approved a supplementary budget containing the Industry Support Facility, as well as separate bailouts for Air Botswana, the Botswana Meat Commission and others. The latest intervention by government follows about P4 billion in COVID-19 Relief Fund interventions, which started in May and included a wage subsidy, tax deferrals and others.

Briefing the media in a televised address on Tuesday, finance and economic development minister, Thapelo Matsheka said the Industry Support Facility was targeted at the hardest hit sectors of the economy and would be restricted to businesses already in operation.