How Bonds Work: Purchase, Coupon Payments, Maturity, Risks

A Bond is not just a piece of paper; it’s a financial promise backed by the issuer and honoured through time. It helps Governments and Companies to raise Money while offering investors a steady return.  Let’s understand how bonds function, using Tanzanian realities to make it practical and understandable.

The Bond lifecycle from announcement to maturity

Issuance The Government of Tanzania (BOT or DSE) announces that it wants to borrow money from the public. This is often done to fund large projects like roads, power stations, or water infrastructure. For example, the government may offer a 5-Year Treasury Bond to raise TZS 500 billion.

Purchase

You, as an investor (individual, SACCOS, Bank, or Insurance Company), apply to buy the bond through licensed brokers. You pay an upfront amount known as the face value.

Example: You buy a bond worth TZS 1 million. This money goes to the government to fund its project.

Coupon Payments

Every 6 months or annually, you’ll receive a fixed amount of interest (called the coupon) on your investment. Example: If the bond has a 10% coupon rate, you earn TZS 100,000 per year, often split into two payments of TZS 50,000 every 6 months.

Maturity

After the agreed period (e.g., 5, 7, or 10 years), the government repays you your full capital, the TZS 1 million you originally invested. Think of it like: You lent the government your money, and they paid you rent (interest) every year, then returned the money after the contract ended.

Understanding what a Coupon is?

A coupon is the interest payment you receive as the bondholder. It is a fixed percentage of your original investment, regardless of inflation or changing market conditions.

Example in Tanzania: If you buy a 15-Year Government Bond worth TZS 2 million with a 12% coupon, you’ll get TZS 240,000 per year as interest income. Coupon payments are often higher than what banks offer in savings accounts, especially for long-term bonds.

What Are the Risks of Investing in Bonds?

Even though bonds are safer than stocks, they are not risk-free. Here's what you need to watch out for:

Inflation Risk

If the cost of living rises faster than your bond interest, your earnings may lose purchasing power. For example: If you earn 10% on your bond but inflation is 12%, you're effectively losing 2% in real value.

Interest Rate Risk

If new bonds in the market offer higher interest rates than your current bond, the value of your bond will drop if you try to sell it before maturity. For example: You bought a bond with 9% interest, but new bonds now offer 13%. Investors will not want your 9% bond unless you sell it at a discount.

Credit Risk

This applies mostly to corporate bonds (bonds from companies). If the business collapses, you may not get your money back. For example: If you buy a bond from a struggling private company and it goes bankrupt, you may lose your investment.

The Tanzanian Government has a track record of repaying its bonds. Unlike private companies, the government has the power to raise taxes or print money to repay debt, making default extremely rare and always assuring your investment safety.