IMF shaves Botswana 2018 forecast

The IMF’s projections are contained in its April World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday.  Last August, IMF researchers forecast Botswana’s 2018 growth at 4.8 percent, following an in-country assessment conducted as part of its annual consultations with local fiscal and monetary authorities.

Tuesday’s downward review swims against the tide, as the World Bank in January upped its forecast of Botswana’s 2018 growth from 4.2 percent to 4.7 percent, while the Bank of Botswana (BoB) has said that it expects a strong performance in line with the official government projection of 5.3 percent.