Only innovation can save Botswana :: Mmegi Online

Much has been said about the country’s future, after the diamond and mining era that powered its initial 50 or so years. The closure of BCL Mine last year was an emphatic reminder that the growth that birthed modern, prosperous Botswana, was anchored by a finite, diminishing and finicky resource.

No matter how deep De Beers and other mineral explorers look, the minerals will at some point become depleted and during their lifespan, they are exposed to global price fluctuations that have in the past rocked our fragile economy.

It is to government’s credit that the revenues from the mining miracle have been spent in supporting the pillars of a diversified economy, namely the development of primary and secondary infrastructure, investment in education and skills development, as well as the support of critical alternative sectors such as financial services and manufacturing.

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