Economy grows at slowest pace since recession

Ndzinge
Ndzinge

The economy grew at 4.4 percent in 2014, the lowest growth rate recorded since the economic recession of 2009, figures released by Statistics Botswana (SB) this week show.

According to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) statistics, the 4.4 percent growth is less than half the revised growth rate of 9.3 percent registered in 2013. The country’s economic back bone, mining, slowed down sharply to register a growth rate of just 4.5 percent in 2014 from 23 percent the previous year. The water and electricity sector was the biggest drawback to the economy as the sector registered a negative growth of 18 percent in the year.

Since the economic recession of 2009, when growth stood at a negative 7.6 percent, the economy has grown by   healthy percentages of 8.6 percent in 2010, 6 percent in 2011, and 4.8 percent in 2012

Editor's Comment
Refrain from risky behaviours

After long spells of dryness and high temperatures, it is important to celebrate the torrential rains with caution and reasonableness especially when all indications suggest that the rains are not going to stop anytime soon, especially in the northern parts of the country.We want to encourage both the young and the old to refrain from any risky behaviour during this rainy season.Batswana need to be on red alert and not take chances during the...

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