Report shows diamonds are still forever

For households, the year-on-year figure had grown to 30.6 percent by May, but for the business sector it had plummeted to 19.8 percent. "As far as this reflects a loss of confidence by the business sector, it is in sharp contrast to the findings of the Business Expectations Survey," says a Botswana economic report prepared by Capital Securities.
The survey was conducted immediately after the 2008/09 Budget Speech which highlighted opportunities for robust growth, rapid acceleration in government spending and plans for major infrastructure development.

Respondents reacted with forecasts of real growth of 5.9 percent over 2007/08 and 6.4 percent over 2008/09. "Confidence levels were high, with exporters registering an average 78 percent, non-exporters 71 percent." The report says.