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Botswana’s rising government debt

Balancing act: Serame’s inflation relief was necessary but is expected to widen the budget deficit and require further funding PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Balancing act: Serame’s inflation relief was necessary but is expected to widen the budget deficit and require further funding PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The country's national debt rises year-on-year with 2021 closing off at $3.5 billion (approximately P38 billion), a cumulative rise of 0.5 percent from 2020.

This is estimated around the same levels ten years back although it had been brought down over the years as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Does this development raise any eyebrows?

Many may wonder what has contributed to these significantly high levels of debt and if this is sustainable in the long term. Can the economy survive in the wake of another global recession or global crisis?

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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