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A familiar uncertainty sets over the economy

Hard times: The economy suffered its deepest contraction since Independence in 2020 when COVID-19 hit PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Hard times: The economy suffered its deepest contraction since Independence in 2020 when COVID-19 hit PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Debswana, the country’s main economic actor, is on track to break a six-year record in sales, while government reserves and the budget are also shaking off the COVID-19 slump. However, as has so often happened in recent years, dark clouds are gathering on the horizon, notes Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI

To use American slang, the economy, which includes business activity, employment creation and the collective aspirations of Batswana, cannot seem to “catch a break”.

The boom economy which stretched from the late 1990s to the late 2000s with diamond and copper production reaching historic peaks, government surpluses rising to similar highs, while poverty and unemployment fell, seems a distant, wistful memory of consistency that policymakers and citizens desperately long for today.

Editor's Comment
Our digital safety is in our hands

That sounds like good news. But the report also warns that this may simply be because our digital economy is still young, not because we are safe. As more people shop, bank and pay online, criminals will follow.We Batswana do not need a report to tell us that danger is real. Many of us have heard of or fallen victim to KYC scams. A caller impersonates your bank or mobile money provider. They say they need to “verify” your account. They ask...

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