Phodiso Valashia, Commissioner General of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), has reassured taxpayers that the country’s recently implemented tax reforms are not designed to increase the tax burden. Instead, they aim to establish a modern, fair, and transparent revenue system that can sustain Botswana’s long-term economic growth.
Speaking to members of the media after the new tax laws took effect, Valashia described the reforms as the most significant overhaul of Botswana’s tax system in recent memory. He emphasized that the changes are meant to modernize revenue collection and lay the groundwork for the nation’s future development.
“The reforms are not about collecting more tax. They are about creating a better and fairer system that supports Botswana’s future,” Valashia said.
He explained that the updated tax framework seeks to bolster the country’s economic resilience by creating a transparent, internationally competitive revenue system aligned with the government’s development agenda.
According to Valashia, the reforms rest on a foundation of productivity, institutional integrity, and shared national responsibility.
“We are building a new foundation for Botswana. It is a foundation built on the productivity of our economy, the integrity of our institutions, and the contribution by every taxpayer of their fair share towards national development,” he said.
Valashia added that the reforms aim to preserve the country’s development gains while broadening the domestic revenue base to ensure sustainability amid rising fiscal pressures.
Currently, Botswana collects tax revenue equivalent to about 13 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure the government plans to raise to at least 25 percent within the next three years, Valashia said.
He stressed that this goal is not intended to increase the burden on taxpayers, but rather to finance the country’s development through domestic resources, reducing reliance on borrowing.
“Our ambition is to increase revenue mobilisation to 25 percent of GDP or above over the next three years. This is part of Botswana’s national development ambition to finance its own development, strengthen economic resilience, and create opportunities for prosperity.”
Valashia noted that a modern tax system is essential for fiscal sovereignty, enabling Botswana to reduce excessive debt dependence while maintaining vital public services and infrastructure investment.
“Countries with strong and efficient tax systems are better positioned to invest in healthcare, education, roads, and social protection without exposing themselves to unsustainable borrowing,” he said.
He further emphasized that the reforms extend beyond tax administration improvements; they are designed to transform the country’s economic architecture.
“The purpose of these reforms is not simply to build a stronger tax system. It is to build a stronger Botswana.”
Valashia pointed out that Botswana’s existing tax framework no longer suits the realities of today’s economy, which is increasingly shaped by digital technologies, cross-border trade, and sophisticated business models.
“A modern economy cannot be sustained by yesterday’s tax system. In an economy that is becoming more digital, more interconnected and more sophisticated, our revenue system must also evolve,” he said.
The new tax laws will enhance transparency, improve compliance, and bolster public confidence in the country’s revenue administration, while ensuring taxation remains fair and equitable, Valashia added.
He appealed to taxpayers to see compliance not just as a legal obligation but as a contribution to nation-building, highlighting that every pula collected supports public services and economic development.
These reforms come as the government intensifies efforts to diversify Botswana’s economy and strengthen domestic revenue streams amid declining mineral revenues and rising expenditure demands.
Valashia said BURS will continue engaging stakeholders and educating taxpayers to ensure the smooth implementation of the new laws, noting that public trust and voluntary compliance are critical to the reforms’ success.
“The future we seek requires a revenue system that is modern, fair, transparent, and capable of supporting Botswana’s aspirations for generations to come.”