Botswana's agricultural sector faces deepening accountability crisis over missing revenues and weak controls
via Mmegi3 min read
Botswana's agricultural sector is grappling with a significant accountability crisis, as revealed by the latest Auditor General's report. The audit uncovered widespread issues including missing revenues, inadequate controls, and the misuse of farm financing, raising serious questions about the management of funds intended to support farmers. A central finding is the breakdown of the cattle levy system, a critical revenue source for the livestock industry. Abattoirs across the country reportedly owe P2.3 million in unpaid slaughter levies, with some debts dating back to 2012. This situation contradicts Section 52 of the Cattle Export and Slaughter Levy Act, which mandates levy payments within 14 days of slaughter. The Auditor General noted that as of July 2025, several abattoirs had outstanding levies totaling P2,385,790, highlighting a pattern of non-enforcement and repeated delays in remittances beyond the statutory timeframe.
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