Trade deficit widens on softer diamond exports
Friday, November 06, 2015
Diamond exports fell 35% in August this year
Trade data released by Statistics Botswana this week shows that while imports remained relatively flat, the deficit was driven by a significant 34% decline in exports from P4.6 billion to P3.03 billion.
An analysis of the data shows that the decline in exports was triggered by lower diamond exports (both polished and rough), which plunged 35% to P2.4 billion over the two months.
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...