The Bank of Botswana has issued a cease-and-desist order to Women’s Finance House Botswana (WFHB), commonly known as Thusang Basadi, after establishing that it has been conducting banking business without a valid licence, contrary to the Banking Act, 2023 and the conditions of its exemption certificate. WFHB has operated under an exemption certificate since 23 August 2001, which exempted it from licensing requirements under the repealed Banking Act, 1995, but limited it from using deposits for direct lending to members. The central bank found that WFHB has been accepting deposits and using those funds to provide credit or make investments, which meets the Banking Act’s definition of banking business and is restricted to licensed persons under section 4(1). The Board has been directed to cease and desist from all operations; illegal banking business can attract penalties of up to BWP 1,000,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both, while failure to comply with the order can expose owners or promoters to up to BWP 500,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or both. Members were asked to remain calm as the Bank continues to work with WFHB’s Board and management on the matter.
Bank of Botswana 2026-04-15
Bank of Botswana issues cease-and-desist order against Women’s Finance House Botswana for unlicensed banking business
The Bank of Botswana has issued a cease-and-desist order to Women’s Finance House Botswana (Thusang Basadi) for conducting banking business without a valid licence, in breach of the Banking Act, 2023 and its exemption conditions. The institution had been accepting deposits and using them for lending and investments, activities reserved for licensed entities, and its Board has been ordered to halt all operations, with potential penalties of up to BWP 1,000,000 and imprisonment for illegal banking and up to BWP 500,000 for non-compliance.