Economic growth slows on sluggish mining

Diamond output still has not recovered from last year's dip
Diamond output still has not recovered from last year's dip

A slowdown in the mining activity contributed to a slower economic growth in the second quarter of the year as production of diamonds, copper and nickel took a knock. Figures from Statistics Botswana (SB) show that the domestic economy grew by 1.6% in the second quarter of 2016, down from 2.7% in the first quarter of the year.

On a year-on-year basis, growth was, however, stagnant as the economy grew at the same rate as the one recorded in the same quarter of 2015. “The slow growth in real GDP was attributed to real mining value added, which decreased by 13.8% in the second quarter of 2016 compared to a decline of 8.2% registered in the same quarter of the previous year.

In the quarter under review, copper and nickel and diamond production decreased by 26.6% and 12.1% respectively.  It should also be noted that Mowana and Thakadu copper mines have been on provisional liquidation starting from the fourth quarter of 2015 to date,” SB stated.

Editor's Comment
Batswana need to do better to stop FMD

It is a clear signal that the government’s purse is empty and that our own behaviour has left veterinary officials fighting with one hand tied behind their backs. We have been here before. During COVID-19, many of us thought we knew better. We ignored simple rules, we carried on as if the danger was someone else’s problem, and the virus took lives and left our economy on its knees. We are still broke from that experience. Yet now, with FMD...

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