Govt opens up on 2011/ 12 budgeting

In a rare moment coming at a time when public finances and debt are getting out of control, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has gathered its critics for 2011/ 12 budget consultation next week.The gathering, named Budget Pitso, is a culmination of concerns from the industry and NGOs that Botswana public budget is done in ‘secrecy’. This is coming at a time when public finances and debt are getting out of control

A number of policy think tanks like BIDPA and trade unions have queried the way budget formulation is being conducted. Botswana budget only gets to be scrutinised when it reaches parliament where legislators debate it. For the public, it is even worse as they only see the minister reading it on national television stations and newspapers. Click here to read more...