Mmegi

GIA plummets as deficit now seen at P29bn

Dicey times: The Finance Ministry is scrambling to keep government finances ticking over
Dicey times: The Finance Ministry is scrambling to keep government finances ticking over

Government has drawn down its savings housed in the Government Investment Account (GIA) to a meagre P250 million, as widening deficits force it to dig deep into its pockets to finance budgetary shortfalls — a crisis which has driven capital markets into a crunch.

With diamonds, the mainstay sector of Botswana’s economy, remaining protracted with no clear recovery in sight, government faces dwindling revenues that is burning up savings held by the Bank of Botswana (BoB) known as the GIA.

Government has been forced to draw down heavily on the GIA to meet its budgetary requirements, whilst also failing to replenish the account due to low mineral sales.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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