El Nino To Worsen Drought In Botswana
Monday, January 18, 2016
“These persistently dry conditions for the remaining rainfall season may worsen the current drought conditions, which the country is experiencing,” he said. “Overall, the deficit in rainfall is expected to continue over the remainder of the rainfall season mainly due to the persistent strong El Nino conditions.”
Addressing a press conference in Gaborone, Botshoma said this does not mean extreme rainfall may not occur as it normally does. Botshoma said the northern parts of Botswana would receive largely normal, with a tendency to above-normal, rains. He said south western and north eastern parts of the country were expected to receive normal to be below normal rains; and the south eastern and north western parts would receive below normal, with a tendency to normal, rains.
Instead, it has sparked a storm of accusations, denials, and unresolved questions about the influence of De Beers on the nation’s politics. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s claims that the diamond giants bankrolled his removal to dodge taxes – and that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government watered down a favourable diamond deal – are explosive matters. But without evidence, they risk becoming a toxic distraction from...