Botswana Central Bank Raises Policy Rate to 3.5% Amid Downturn

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYNovember 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM UTC

TLDR

The Bank of Botswana has raised its benchmark policy rate sharply from 1.9% to 3.5%, seeking to narrow the gap between its key rate and the higher lending rates charged by commercial banks
The move follows a second consecutive year of economic contraction, as weak global demand for diamonds continues to weigh on Botswana’s growth and liquidity
Falling diamond exports have reduced foreign exchange inflows and tightened financial conditions, prompting banks to increase lending rates

The Bank of Botswana has raised its benchmark policy rate sharply from 1.9% to 3.5%, seeking to narrow the gap between its key rate and the higher lending rates charged by commercial banks. The move follows a second consecutive year of economic contraction, as weak global demand for diamonds continues to weigh on Botswana’s growth and liquidity.

Falling diamond exports have reduced foreign exchange inflows and tightened financial conditions, prompting banks to increase lending rates. The government’s rising borrowing needs to fund budget deficits have added further strain on liquidity. The central bank said the rate hike is intended to restore monetary policy effectiveness and improve transmission to the broader economy. It has, however, instructed banks not to raise their prime lending rates further in the near term.

Earlier in October, Moody’s downgraded Botswana’s sovereign rating, citing rising public debt and slow recovery in the diamond sector. Inflation rose to 3.7% year-on-year in September, its highest level in more than a year.

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Key Takeaways

Botswana’s aggressive rate hike underscores the central bank’s attempt to reassert monetary control amid deteriorating fiscal and external conditions. The diamond slump has exposed the country’s dependence on its flagship export, eroding revenues and tightening credit across the financial system. By lifting the policy rate to 3.5%, the Bank of Botswana aims to realign the policy corridor and anchor market rates to improve liquidity management. However, the move comes with risks: higher borrowing costs could further constrain investment and consumer spending in an already contracting economy. The instruction to freeze prime lending rates signals the central bank’s effort to protect borrowers while recalibrating policy transmission. With inflation inching higher and credit conditions tightening, Botswana’s economic outlook hinges on a recovery in global diamond demand and prudent fiscal adjustments to stabilise debt and support diversification beyond the mining sector.

Botswana

Diamonds

Interest Rate

Inflation

Economy