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Botswana may have lost the AFCON 2027 hosting rights to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania but their Sports Ministry’s budget allocation shows East Africa still has a lot to learn.
Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) is brimming with excitement following revelations that they will receive a 19.4 percent increase in their budget allocation for the 2024-25 financial year.
The country’s Minister of Finance Peggy Serame indicated in a budget speech this week that the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture’s 2024-25 proposed ministerial budget has been set at P1.06 billion pula (Ksh12.55 billion), an increase of P887 million pula (Ksh10.5 billion), which has brought a ray of hope to the sporting fraternity in the country.
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The amount pales in comparison to what their Kenyan counterparts received in the 2023-24 financial year after the Ababu Namwamba-led Sports Ministry was allocated Ksh6.4 billion by the Treasury.
This is despite Kenya submitting and winning the hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania, at the expense of Botswana, who were among the other interested countries whose bids were unsuccessful.
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BNSC board chairperson Marumo Morule could not hide his excitement, telling Botswana News Daily that the increase now means there will be an increased grant for facilities maintenance and upgrade, as well as new initiatives that would transform sports outlook in the country and prepare athletes for the world stage.
This year’s budget has also seen a significant increase of 317 percent in the sport development fund, Botswana’s equivalent to Kenya’s Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund.
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“The 317 per cent is a great increase for sport, and we are happy to receive that, however, I would like to remind sport administrators that there are plans in place to propel and grow the sporting industry in the country. We will work closely with stakeholders to manage this fund and channel it to growth strategies accordingly,” BNSC chief executive officer Tuelo Serufho told the outlet.
“While this budget allows for improved service provision and provides possibilities for growth, it is also evident that there is still more that can be done to promote sport in Botswana. There are issues within professionalising and commercialising certain codes in the country,” he added.
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For a country with just over 2.6 million people, Botswana looks well placed to achieve most of its sporting goals compared to the 55 million people of Kenya.
Botswana will be relying on young sprinter Letsile Tebogo for medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics while their women’s football team will take part in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after eliminating Kenya’s Harambee Starlets in the final round of qualifiers.
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