De Beers ‘dribbles’ BURS in tax saga

De Beers PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
De Beers PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A study commissioned by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) alleges that diamond mining giant, De Beers, has been paying far less than its fair share of tax to the Botswana government by using a variety of “accounting tricks”. Mmegi Staffer SHARON MATHALA reports on an audit covering the years 2013-20 which reportedly show a P4 billion tax debt to Batswana

In 2021, a report from the Auditor-General (AG) raised alarm that some mining companies could be short-changing Batswana and the Botswana government by providing incorrect reports on their production and sales, which in turn would affect the amounts they pay government in royalties, taxes and other dues.

Mineral revenues are government’s most important source of funding and account for one third of budget incomes.

Editor's Comment
Molepolole unrest: Urgent attention on missing person cases

From Jakoba's mysterious disappearance on November 9 to the grim discovery of his remains at Mosinki Lands, a gap in the response mechanisms of the police and village leadership has been laid bare. The community's anger is evident, seen in the attack on Bakang Masole, the man found driving Jakoba's taxi and the main suspect, and the subsequent riot. Residents express discontent, citing a troubling trend of missing persons cases often...

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