Power shortages weigh on business confidence

A survey conducted by the Bank of Botswana (BoB) reflects an increasingly challenging operating environment, with more than half of business owners more pessimistic about their prospects on the back of weak domestic demand, shortages of skilled manpower, and water and power shortages.

According to the Business Expectation Survey (BES) released by the BoB this week, the level of optimism as measured by the Business Confidence Index (BCI) deteriorated from 52 percent in September 2014 to 44 percent in March 2015.