The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has outperformed its national revenue target while dismissing any direct connection between its financial results and wage negotiations.
The agency also announced a halt to its organizational realignment, citing the current fiscal climate. Officials emphasized that boosting domestic revenue remains a cornerstone of Botswana’s economic transformation.
In a statement to BusinessPost, Mable Bolele, Chief Executive Assistant to the Commissioner General, underscored that revenue performance does not influence wage outcomes. “There is no direct or structural link between BURS revenue performance and wage increase negotiations. Annual wage reviews are informed by established engagement frameworks between BURS and employee representatives,” she said.
She further explained, “While revenue mobilisation contributes to the broader fiscal environment within which such considerations are assessed, wage outcomes are determined through structured negotiation processes rather than being directly tied to revenue outturns.”
BURS exceeded its revenue target of P59.824 billion by roughly P507 million, collecting approximately P60.124 billion. According to Bolele, this achievement reflects strengthened compliance measures, improved enforcement, and enhanced use of data analytics. “This performance reflects strengthened compliance interventions, improved enforcement, and enhanced use of data and analytics. More fundamentally, it reinforces the increasing importance of domestic revenue as a stable and dependable source of funding,” she added.
Looking ahead, BURS has set an ambitious revenue goal of about P65 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year. This target aligns with government efforts to bolster domestic resource mobilisation and reduce dependence on mineral revenues.
On the structural front, Bolele confirmed that the realignment initiative is on hold to reflect current fiscal realities. She stressed that such reforms must be financially sustainable and operationally sound. As a result, previously issued retrenchment notices have been withdrawn.
BURS’ restructuring strategy focuses on key priorities including strengthening revenue collection, enhancing trade facilitation, deepening customer centricity, and advancing digital transformation alongside data-driven compliance. The agency also acknowledged diagnostic support from the International Monetary Fund to guide aspects of the restructuring process.
Bolele reiterated that all revenue collected by BURS is paid into the Consolidated Fund and distributed through the national budgeting process. She emphasized that while BURS does not control fund allocation, domestic revenue supports a significant portion of government programs spanning infrastructure, health, and education. “The allocation of revenue across sectors, including the wages bill and development expenditure, is determined through the national budgeting framework. BURS’s mandate is to ensure efficient and effective collection of revenue,” she said.
She also highlighted the growing role of domestic revenue in sustaining Botswana’s fiscal outlook. “As Botswana advances towards a more diversified and resilient economic model, domestic revenue mobilisation will increasingly underpin fiscal sustainability. BURS will continue to strengthen compliance frameworks, enhance service delivery, and deploy modern tools to support this national objective,” Bolele said.