Mmegi

Citizens as bystanders in the economy

From the ground up: Youth-led SMEs often struggle to survive PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
From the ground up: Youth-led SMEs often struggle to survive PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Since the birth of Botswana as an independent state, the government has shouldered the weight of driving economic growth from the fledgling economy of the 1960s to the affluent macro-economy the country basks in.

When the chronicle of Botswana as a success story is narrated, about the anchors on diamonds or the country’s resilient leadership, the question will be asked whether citizens played a mammoth role in this success story. Or has the country carved a system where citizens are bystanders in an economy increasingly out of their reach?

The quest for upward social mobility and economic opulence is the longing of every nation. From the epochs of the Roman Empire to the rise of Alexander the Great, the nature of national civilisation lies in the quest to achieve greatness for society and its members.


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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