**Botswana Government Seeks to Raise Bond‑Issuance Ceiling to P85 Billion**
Gaborone – The National Assembly has been asked to increase the ceiling on Botswana’s government bond‑issuance programme from the current P55 billion to P85 billion. Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe told legislators that the proposed amendment is intended to provide greater financing flexibility, particularly to accommodate pension‑related liabilities, and should not be interpreted as a target for new borrowing.
In a statement to parliament, Minister Gaolathe emphasized that the higher ceiling would give the government more room to manage cash‑flow needs without committing to additional debt issuance. “The increase is about financing flexibility, not a plan to borrow more,” he said.
The move comes as the government looks for ways to address pension obligations while maintaining fiscal prudence. No specific borrowing schedule or timeline for bond issuance under the new ceiling was disclosed. The proposal now awaits parliamentary approval.
Article source: sundaystandard.info | Image credit: Sunday Standard
