Africa-Press – Botswana. Parliament has passed the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, marking a significant step in the government’s efforts to strengthen public finances in the face of challenging economic conditions.
The Bill, presented by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe, was adopted without amendments on Thursday.
A total of 27 MPs voted in favour, one voting against and one abstaining.
The smooth passage reflected a strong consensus among lawmakers regarding the need for fiscal reform.
Mr Gaolathe expressed gratitude for the support shown by the MPs.
He described the Bill as a strategic fiscal intervention aimed at shoring up government revenue amid tightening economic conditions.
Minister Gaolathe emphasised that the legislation was designed to strengthen the country’s revenue base and modernise the tax framework.
The Amendment Bill with objectives to introducing VAT on remote services, including digital trade and cross-border online transactions, ensuring that businesses operating digitally contributed fairly to the local tax base and mandating electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) across VAT-registered businesses, aimed at improving compliance, enhancing efficiency and reducing tax evasion.
“With the Bill passed, Botswana will join a growing list of countries adapting their tax regimes to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age,” said Mr Gaolathe.
He further said the move aligned Botswana with global trends in tax reform, particularly as governments worldwide sought to capture revenue from the expanding digital economy.
Mr Gaolathe further said it also signaled a broader commitment by the Ministry of Finance to adopt technology-driven solutions in public finance management.
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