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No interest rate cuts soon despite inflation drop

Making decisions: The central bank is responsible for monetary policy management PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Making decisions: The central bank is responsible for monetary policy management PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The Bank of Botswana (BoB) does not envisage cutting interest rates anytime soon, despite projections of cooling inflation, with executives arguing that numerous threats to the forecasts persist.

The central bank raised interest rates three times last year, by a collective 151 basis points as it fought escalating inflation which peaked at 14-year highs in August. However, since then, inflation has been falling – largely due to lower fuel prices and base effects – and in May, dropped to a two-year low at 5.7 percent.

The BoB last week said it expects inflation to remain within the three to six percent objective range going into the medium term. The central bank had previously expected inflation to revert on a sustained basis to the objective range from the second quarter of 2024.

Editor's Comment
BDF visitation approval a welcome development

BDF camps are military camps, and there is a need for stricter rules and regulations to safeguard their operations as well as ensure the safety of civilians. Of course, military personnel are human, and they have relatives as well as girlfriends and boyfriends, but the fact remains that the BDF is responsible for ensuring national security and stability and, as such, will be one of the first targets in the event of possible attacks. The decision...

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