Mining sector contribution falls 30%

Addressing a full council meeting last Friday, Matekane said economic diversification must continuously be supported to enhance economic competitiveness. He said the mining sector's economic contribution was only 29 percent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year from as high as 41.7 percent in 2006, representing a 30 percent decline.

"The mining sector is still dormant and has to rise to the occasion and deliver the jobs that the nation requires," he said.
He added that to fast-track and sustain economic growth, the country must consider detaching the growth of non-mining sectors from dependency on government spending as well as providing the necessary infrastructure and policy environment to enhance growth of the non-mining sector.