Mmegi

A frank-talk ‘shootout’ at the BoB

Economic arsenal:  The Bank of Botswana is government’s primary economic advisor PIC: BANK OF BOTSWANA
Economic arsenal: The Bank of Botswana is government’s primary economic advisor PIC: BANK OF BOTSWANA

Former president Festus Mogae’s famous phrase ‘straight talk breaks no friendships’ was in play recently when top current and former Bank of Botswana executives, the Finance Ministry permanent secretary and bank CEOs, publicly shared frank views on the economy. MBONGENI MGUNI was in the audience

“I have a demand governor, and (BoB) board chair and a demand is a non-negotiable requirement. “From yourselves, what we need is unbiased and straightforward, objective financial and economic advice without any fear or favour. “We are going to have to implement those painful adjustments, painful decisions.”

Finance Ministry permanent secretary, Tshokologo Kganetsano, set the ball rolling last week at the Bank of Botswana Monetary Policy Statement launch. The annual event where the central bank traditionally unveils the direction it will lean towards in terms of interest rates for the year, is frequently dominated by discussions on trending economic challenges and solutions.

Editor's Comment
The Boko-led administration has to tread carefully

‘When you make peace withyourself, you make peace with the world’- Maha GhosanandaThis may come at a huge cost if not handled properly. What started off on Labour Day in Letlhakane this year, where Boko was in attendance when the militant lawyer-cum-trade unionist, Robert Rabasimane rebutted the President’s address in defence of the trade union has seemingly spiralled out of control. The issue is now creating a cat-and-mouse type of a...

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