mmegi

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
Gov't must empower DCEC urgently

As the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government takes charge, it must act decisively to equip the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) with the tools, laws, and resources needed to combat graft. The time for half-measures is over. DCEC Director-General, Botlhale Makgekgenene’s, recent address to the Public Accounts Committee paints a stark picture. Over five years, leadership instability, chronic underfunding and weak...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up