The three major economic issues awaiting Masisi

Mountains to climb: Masisi
Mountains to climb: Masisi

As we move into 2018, economic prospects for the year remain mixed, reflecting both international economic uncertainty as well as domestic issues. Economic growth for the year should be reasonable given the likelihood of increased diamond production, as long as the international market remains stable.

However, as is well known in Botswana, diamond mining creates relatively fewer jobs directly, and the challenge remains to support other economic activities, notably those producing exports of goods and services, which is the only sustainable source of long-term job creation.

Rising international fuel prices will put upward pressure on inflation, but we do not expect this to be serious enough to require an increase in interest rates. Global economic growth is picking up, with the IMF forecasting growth of 3.9% in 2018 and 2019, the highest for several years, which will generally provide a positive environment for exports.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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