Inside the bittersweet “record” economic growth figures

Days of our lives: Fuel prices have increased by more than 40% on average in the last 24 months
Days of our lives: Fuel prices have increased by more than 40% on average in the last 24 months

The local economy’s robust rebound of 11.4% last year, the highest annual expansion since 1989, is not being felt in the streets where ordinary Batswana are battling to make ends meet. Economists unpack why the growth numbers are both important but little felt by the majority. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Cynics of economic growth figures frequently cite the quote made famous by US literary legend Mark Twain: “'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”.

When Statistics Botswana recently announced that the local economy had expanded by 11.4% last year, the fastest growth since 1989, many cynics felt the data agency was either fiddling with the numbers or conveniently ignoring the troubles ordinary Batswana have been experiencing in recent years.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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