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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
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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