Rethink development strategy, AFDB urges Botswana
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
High unemployment, income inequality and poverty are key development challenges facing Botswana
In a Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for the period 2015-2019 approved by the Bank this week, the Tunis based AFDB says there is a need to accelerate the transformation from primary sector-driven economy to advanced manufacturing and services as the country is highly vulnerable to global shocks as evidenced by the 2009 financial crisis.
In 2009, Botswana borrowed $1.5 billion from the AFDB for budgetary support after diamond revenues were adversely affected by the financial crisis.
It is a clear signal that the government’s purse is empty and that our own behaviour has left veterinary officials fighting with one hand tied behind their backs. We have been here before. During COVID-19, many of us thought we knew better. We ignored simple rules, we carried on as if the danger was someone else’s problem, and the virus took lives and left our economy on its knees. We are still broke from that experience. Yet now, with FMD...