COVID budget: Can challenges become opportunities?

Building blocks: Greater digitisation will anchor the economyu00e2u20acu2122s new growth
Building blocks: Greater digitisation will anchor the economyu00e2u20acu2122s new growth

One year ago, at this very time, I wrote an article in this paper reviewing a decade of Botswana budgets, looking at the trends we have witnessed in the previous decades, the challenges facing the country and how we need to respond whilst challenging our government to change its approach to attain our aspirations for Vision 2036.

 To frame our discussions, I always find it useful to go back to that guiding North Star of Vision 2036 and remember what we are pushing for and to remember that our long-term goals will only be achieved by short-term efforts.

Though Vision 2036 is 15 years away, this is a very short time if we consider the momentous cultural shifts we will need to attain the aspirations of being a First World country that is globally competitive with a diversified economy and sustainable engines of economic growth, whilst promoting good governance and a sustainable environment, without forgetting the peace and security that is the foundation of our society.

Editor's Comment
A promising step for public schools, but...

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative....

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