Is our government increasingly being run by decrees?

The latest announcement of the 70 percent increase duty on alcoholic beverages has taken by many by surprise, especially that there has been uproar over opening hours of liquor outlets. Liquor traders took the matter to the courts and the state has appealed.  The court ruling is being awaited. 

It remains doubtful whether the stakeholders in the liquor trade were ever consulted on the latest dramatic duty hike. Such arbitrariness is surely sending mixed signals not only to investors in the liquor sector but also other sectors. It is apparent that when the Kgalagadi Breweries Ltd (KBL), and its partners - SABMiller, pumped investment into their venture, little did they anticipate that the Botswana government will in the near future embark on measures aimed at undermining that investment.