Botswana: Condom Tax Exemption Instituted

GABARONE, Botswana, September 10, 2006 — In its continued commitment to preventing the spread of HIV, the Government of Botswana (GOB) has exempted condoms from a Value Added Tax.

PSI/Botswana advocated for the exemption at national forums with the Ministry of Health, the National Aids Coordinating Agency and the National Condom Committee. These efforts proved fruitful, and tax exemption was adopted as a key recommendation at the National HIV Prevention Conference in September 2005.

PSI/Botswana asserted that because HIV/AIDS had been declared a national emergency and Botswana's President was stressing the importance of correct and consistent condom use, condoms, like life-saving drugs, should not be taxed.

Another reason for the change was that since PSI/Botswana’s Lover’s Plus condoms are donated by the GOB through the Ministry of Health, taxing them defeated the whole purpose of funding them. Taxing condoms hindered PSI/Botswana's ability to provide quality condoms at an affordable price to the vulnerable population of Botswana.

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning Baledzi Gaolathe announced in April 2006 that condoms will join other products that will be exempted from Value Added Tax. The exemption is yet to take place but has been submitted by the minister to parliament.

— Botho Tlhobogang, PSI/Botswana

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