Trading requires something to trade
Monday, May 11, 2020
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is scheduled to kick off on January 1, 2021 with trade between countries that have agreed on tariffs. AfCFTA will potentially be the biggest common market in the world, with 1.27 billion consumers, and an aggregated gross domestic product of up to $3.4 trillion.
For Botswana’s aspirations of an export-led economy, AfCFTA is a dream come true. On the ground, however, is the recurring nightmare of AfCFTA leading to a swamping of the local market by cheap imports, drowning out the little manufacturing capacity available. Voices in certain circles fear that AfCFTA could be a ‘mega-South Africa’, which for decades has overshadowed the local productive sector empowered by the provisions of the SACU agreement.
When the news broke, a fierce debate ensued. While some members of the public believe that the law should take its cause, there is a section of the population that believes the move to detain the MP is politically motivated.Matsheka has been in the custody of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security since August 2 and the warrant of arrest was allegedly obtained on August 4, two days later.The issue of alleged ritual murders has never been an...