Rolling P24bn budget deficits until 2020

Jeffers.PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG
Jeffers.PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG

Botswana will incur rolling budget deficits amounting to P24.7 billion for the next three financial years to boost growth through fiscal stimulus but economists are sceptical about the sustanability of a mineral- led economy spending its way out of an economic downturn.

Largely due to a P4 billion rise in development expenditure, government’s spending is expected to outweigh revenues in the 2017-2018 financial year by P6.8 billion or -4.1% of the GDP.

Deficits of similar magnitudes are seen until 2019 before the budget shortfall declines to -2.2% in 2020.

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