11/02/2025
Botswana 2025/2026 National Budget: Bold Promises, Tough Questions, and the Road Ahead
The 2025/2026 National Budget, as presented by the Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, presents some interesting tenets of the new government’s economic vision. The new government is on a mission to rebuild an "inclusive and deep economy" through a series of strategic phases, the fourth being "Building a New Botswana."
Under this strategic underpinning or theme, the budget shifts focus to the creative industry, encouraging the adoption of indigenous creativity inspired by storytelling, dress, dance, art, rhetoric, and more. I completely understand and support this direction—it’s important to preserve and celebrate our cultural identity. However, we must ask ourselves this difficult yet critical question: Is this what the global market is looking for? Does a focus on indigenous creativity propel us forward, or does it risk limiting our artistic scope? I believe we should move where the world is moving. Our culture should be a source of inspiration, not a constraint and certainly not a border within which our creative pursuits dare not cross. We shouldn’t feel pressured to incorporate it where it doesn’t fit, especially if it means missing out on broader opportunities. My view is that leveraging partnerships is key, collaboration with private creative companies and working together and alongside them can elevate Botswana’s creative industry to uncharted paths to success.
The budget also introduces legislation to ensure creatives (digital media producers, influencers, bloggers, and social media journalists) can benefit from content creation platforms and compete in the global market. What a time for the members of the 5th estate!! This is a commendable move, and if well-executed, it could provide financial stability and global exposure for our artists.
Another significant development is the introduction of free sanitary pads for female students. This is a long-overdue yet highly welcome initiative. Beyond accessibility, I hope this move sparks a local industry for producing sanitary products instead of relying on imports. A homegrown solution would not only create jobs but also ensure sustainability.
The government has also proposed a newborn allowance of P300 per month. While this sounds like a positive step in supporting families, its implementation raises concerns. How will the government ensure efficient and fair distribution? Who will be responsible for claiming the grant? Will this policy influence parental responsibility, especially concerning absent fathers? Could it inadvertently contribute to gender-based violence in some cases? These are critical questions which i hope the implementation strategy will provide answers.
Additionally, the old age pension will increase from P830 to P1,400. While social welfare is important, the timing of this increment brings discomfort. Given that our economy is still in recovery, was this the most pressing priority? What economic metrics informed this decision? This to me, is not an appropriate response to the financial and economic difficulties the country is faced with. Similarly, with the proposed P4,000 minimum wage, there was little clarity or guidance on how businesses were expected to implement—leaving companies to figure it out on their own which will consequently result in misalignment and inconsistencies in ex*****on. I hope the government has developed concrete strategies to ensure that these policies are effective and do not create unintended and unwelcome economic pressures.
Overall, this budget raises important questions about policy, ex*****on, and fiscal discipline. A significant portion is allocated to new developments, which, if managed well, could lead to job creation and skills development for Batswana. The burden now lies in ensuring that these initiatives translate from paper to meaningful and lasting impact in people’s lives.
