mmegi

BoB interest rate hikes: Who gains and who loses?

Tough times: Interest rate hikes make loan repayments costlier PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Tough times: Interest rate hikes make loan repayments costlier PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

After raising the interest rate for the first time in 14 years on 28 April 2022, the Bank of Botswana (BoB), raised the interest rate again for the second time this year on 16 June.

In April, the BoB increased the newly introduced Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) by 51 basis points (0.51%) from 1.14% to 1.65%.

The latest increase is 50 basis points (0.5%) and takes the MoPR to 2.15%. The MoPR is the rate at which BoB lends money to commercial banks. It affects the prime lending rate which is the rate at which commercial banks charge consumers for borrowing money. The prime lending rate is higher than the MoPR to enable banks to cover their basic profit margin.

Editor's Comment
The Boko-led administration has to tread carefully

‘When you make peace withyourself, you make peace with the world’- Maha GhosanandaThis may come at a huge cost if not handled properly. What started off on Labour Day in Letlhakane this year, where Boko was in attendance when the militant lawyer-cum-trade unionist, Robert Rabasimane rebutted the President’s address in defence of the trade union has seemingly spiralled out of control. The issue is now creating a cat-and-mouse type of a...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up