- Hosts 31st World Savings and Retail Banking Institute conference
- Drives Financial Inclusion, Green Finance, Responsible Banking
- VP Gaolathe declares – green finance is about survival
KITSO RAMONO
Kasane, better known as a gateway to Botswana’s wilderness, this week transformed into Africa’s financial think-tank as the Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) hosted the 31st World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) African Regional Conference.
The gathering brought together banking executives, policymakers, and development partners under the banner: “Driving Sustainable Development: Financial Inclusion, Green Finance, and Responsible Banking.”
In the keynote address, Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathesaid Africa still has work to do in making banking available to all. While most people around the world have access to a bank account, almost half of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa remain unbanked.But he said the continent is also leading the way with innovations such as Kenya’s M-Pesa mobile money service and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, which allows trade across African countries to be settled in local currencies.
“Africa is not just catching up, we are showing the world new ways of doing things,” Gaolathe said.
For Botswana, the conference came at a turning point. Gaolathe said the country could no longer rely on diamonds alone to fund its future. He outlined the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which focuses on turning plans into action, holding leaders accountable, and creating results that ordinary people can feel.“Our ambition is not just to dream boldly but to deliver consistently,” he told delegates.
BSB Chief Executive Officer, Nixon Marumoloa, added that the bank has long played a role in reaching rural communities, encouraging a savings culture, and promoting financial literacy. He said BSB’s success in serving ordinary Batswana shows how local banks can shape global conversations.Another major topic at the conference was climate change. Although Africa produces less than 4% of global greenhouse gases, it suffers some of the worst effects, including droughts, floods, and food shortages.
Gaolathe further said African countries need to tap into “green finance”, money invested in environmentally friendly and sustainable projects, as a way to protect communities and build resilience.“For us, green finance is not a luxury. It is survival,” he said.
The WSBI represents 6,400 savings and retail banks serving 1.7 billion people worldwide. At the Kasane meeting, African banks showcased success stories: Morocco’s Al Barid Bank using digital tools to reach farmers, Uganda’s FINCA combining microfinance with education, and Botswana Savings Bank itself helping rural families access banking services.
Gaolathe challenged delegates to make Kasane the place where Africa showed it was ready to lead.“Let it be remembered that here, leaders chose courage over complacency, inclusion over exclusion, and sustainability over short-term gain,” he said.
