Slash civil service, trim spending - IMF

Released last week, the detailed report follows a visit to Botswana of the IMF's Executive Board between June 1 and 14, 2010 during which the team met with senior finance ministry and Bank of Botswana officials.

Describing Botswana's civil service as "among the largest in Africa", the IMF says its size was weighing down the economy and stunting the development of the private sector. "The public sector outbids the private sector for available labour, exerting upward pressure on economy-wide labour costs and contributes to high unit labour costs and unemployment.