The Botswana 2025/2026 budget speech

Good afternoon 😃 

I have no intentions of posting on Tuesday at this moment but because of yesterday’s budget speech 2025/2026 I feel obligated to and decided to deliver this late than usual because I was going through the speech again this morning.

But later this week on Friday I will share how this will benefit young people, today I just want to dedicate it to how the budgets will be allocated:

Here is a breakdown of the 2025/2026 budget allocations for each ministry in Botswana, including how they will receive funds:

Ministerial Recurrent Budget Allocation:

The total recurrent budget is P65.95 billion, an increase of P2.21 billion (3.5%) compared to the previous year .

1. Ministry for State President: P12.55 billion (19.0% of total)

Covers Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, DEA, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Weapons Management Authority (CBRNWMA) at P9.79 billion.

Funds the absorption of Special Constables, special investigations, NAHPA activities, and Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) .

2. Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education: P11.68 billion (17.7%)

 Covers teachers salaries, child welfare programs, sanitary pads for students, textbooks, and school feeding programs .

3. Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs: P11.27 billion (17.1%)

Funds Revenue Support Grants to District and Urban Councils (P5.24 billion).

Provides for health services, old-age pension increases, and procurement of furniture and equipment .

4. Ministry of Health: P8.98 billion (13.6%)

 Funds medical aid schemes, laboratory supplies, equipment, vaccines, and ARVs.

Supports Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital and Botswana Medical Regulatory Authority (BOMRA) .

5. Ministry of Higher Education: P4.66 billion (7.1%)

 Covers operational costs of tertiary institutions, student allowances, and the Institute of Health Sciences .

6. Ministry of Finance: P3.06 billion (4.6% increase)

Funds tertiary tuition fees, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme, and AML/CFT training .

7. Ministry of Lands and Agriculture: P2.44 billion (3.7%)

Supports food security, smallholder farmers, land management, and subventions to Land Boards, NARDI, MIRA, BMC-Maun, and Tsabong Abattoir .

8. Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure: P1.94 billion (7.6% decline)

Covers road maintenance, fuel procurement, SOEs subventions, and salaries for the Catalyst Project Team .

9. Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship: P1.17 billion (1.8%)

Funds state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under this ministry (P873 million) for industry and business development .

10. Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services: P1.02 billion (1.5%)

Covers legal services, court operations, correctional facilities, and food for inmates .

11. Other Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments: P7.18 billion (10.9%) .

Development Budget Allocation:

The total development budget is P23.75 billion, allocated as follows :

1. Modernizing and Transforming Infrastructure: P11.54 billion.

2. Improving Quality of Life: P9.81 billion.

3. Innovation and Digital Transformation: P1.47 billion.

4. Supporting Private Sector Led Growth: P0.93 billion.

Key Ministry Allocations for Development Budget:

Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure: P4.31 billion (largest share) for road networks and aviation projects .

Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs: P3.48 billion for social welfare and education services .

Ministry for State President: P3.33 billion for security, village connectivity, creative industry, and disaster preparedness .

Ministry of Lands and Agriculture: P2.88 billion for agriculture modernization and land servicing .

Ministry of Minerals and Energy: P2.66 billion for power importation, renewable energy, and fuel storage .

This allocation structure ensures funding across key sectors, supporting economic development, infrastructure, and social services.

Like I said on Friday I will unpack how the budgets will benefit the youth of Botswana