Gov�t does not create jobs � Matambo

Delivering his budget speech yesterday Matambo said: “With regard to employment creation, it is important to clarify that the principal role of the Government is not to create jobs directly, but to provide a conducive macroeconomic environment to facilitate the development of the private sector. The private sector, in turn, is expected to take advantage of such an environment to undertake investments, which would contribute to the growth of the economy and creation of sustainable employment opportunities”.

He also said between financial years 1988/1989 and 2014/2015, there has been a notable change in the composition of Botswana’s Gross Domestic Product. This period was characterised by growth in various non-mining sectors: finance, business and services; trade, hotels and restaurants; and transport and communications. These sectors are currently contributing significantly to value addition, while the contribution by the mining sector has declined from over 50% in 1988/1989 to around 20% in 2014/2015.