By Malebogo Hirschfeld – Forensics Services Manager, Bank Gaborone As the Easter holidays approach, many Batswana will be sending money home, transacting while on holiday, or shopping Easter celebrations. With more people using digital and mobile banking services, fraudsters see this as an opportunity to trick unsuspecting individuals out of their hard-earned money. Bank Gaborone, we understand that banking is personal. Therefore, we are committed to helping you protect what matters most – your money...

Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) released an update of the sovereign credit rating for Botswana. The rating agency affirmed the Government of Botswana’s long-term local and foreign currency issuer ratings at “A3” for 2025 but downgraded the outlook on the country from stable to negative. Botswana’s credit ratings, therefore, remain firmly investment grade. The negative outlook is on account of Moody’s expectation that weak global demand and depressed prices for diamonds will lead to a rapid...

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data revealed that Botswana’s annual inflation rate climbed to 2.7% in February 2025, marking a modest increase from January’s 2.5%. This uptick was primarily driven by escalating prices in food, beverages, and miscellaneous goods and services, which encompass insurance and financial services. Significantly, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category, along with miscellaneous goods and services, were the foremost contributors to the annual inflation rate in February 2025, accounting for...

Choppies Group, the prominent grocery retailer, has experienced a notable boost in its financial performance for the half-year ending December 2024. The company reported retail sales revenue of P4.7 billion, alongside a gross profit of P965 million for the last six months of the year. Listed on both the Botswana and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, this fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) retailer is engaged in various sectors, including milling, manufacturing, and financial transactions. Recent financial results reveal...

• To be held 26th April 2025 registration closes 31st March 2025 • P1 950 000 injected for the next three years. Absa Bank Botswana has pledged its support for the 4th edition of the Summer Kids Marathon (SKM) with a sponsorship of P1,950,000.00 over the next three years. Absa’s Retail Director, Valeta Mthimkhulu, underscored the importance of nurturing children’s talents from an early age. She emphasized that the bank’s involvement goes beyond sponsorship, as...

The Bank of Botswana (Bank) wishes to inform members of the public that, in accordance with Regulation 11 (1) of the Electronic Payment Services Regulations, 2019 (Regulations), Beni Fame (Pty) Limited has voluntarily surrendered its licence to operate an electronic payment service, issued by the Bank on 11 May 2020. However, Beni Fame operations as a licensed Bureau de Change remain unchanged. Accordingly, the public is advised not to transact electronic payment services with Beni...

The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) wishes to inform its valued customers that the Online Business Registration System (OBRS) is currently undergoing an upgrade which will deliver enhancements of the system and an improved user-experience. The public is further informed that in order to migrate to the upgraded system, the OBRS will be offline from the 11th to the 18th March 2025. The system will be back online on the 19th March 2025. Kindly...

Africa’s mineral wealth is no secret. From the opals of Ethiopia to the rubies of Mozambique, the continent sparkles with geological treasure. But there’s a critical question that has long haunted African economies: How can we transform these raw materials into economic opportunity? Enter design innovation — a strategy that could revolutionize how African countries approach their mineral resources. The continent isn’t just sitting on a mountain of stones; it’s perched on a potential economic...

In a recent comprehensive assessment, the Bank of Botswana (BoB) has provided a nuanced overview of the country’s financial ecosystem, affirming its fundamental strength despite emerging macroeconomic challenges. The central bank’s latest report offers a transparent examination of the nation’s financial infrastructure, highlighting both its robust foundations and potential vulnerabilities. Despite concerns about fiscal constraints and decelerating economic momentum, Botswana’s financial system demonstrates remarkable adaptive capacity. The banking sector’s resilience is underpinned by sophisticated regulatory...

Anglo American’s decision to divest from De Beers is more than a corporate restructuring—it’s a potential inflection point that could fundamentally alter the country’s economic trajectory. The diamond that emerges from the depths of Botswana’s earth is more than a glittering stone. It is a symbol of national transformation, a geological miracle that has lifted an entire country from the margins of global economics to a position of relative prosperity. Since the landmark discovery of...