6 January 2009
editorial
The past year was a relatively eventful year. Looking ahead to 2009, there are a number of issues that will preoccupy our society and the world.
It might be of some benefit to attempt to make sense of the specific patterns that emerge and work out what to do about them, collectively and individually.
Of immediate significance is the downturn of the world economy, which threatens to be very severe indeed.
We have seen retrenchments across the mining sector and diamond sales have not been particularly lively. Other sectors of the economy are set to feel the ripple effects.
Government revenue looks destined for a decline. Perhaps that is why government recently made the announcement that it will not immediately go ahead with the very ambitious original National Development Plan 10. Rather it will cautiously consider revenue streams before making such commitments.
All these point to a very lean year. We are nervous about government's silence on the overall impact this slowdown is likely to have on this country.
President Ian Khama's presidency, characterised by comments on almost every other issue from alcohol to taxi fares, has not found time to give the nation an overview of the impact the current downturn will have on it.
While other countries speak in specific terms about the number of jobs that are likely to be lost, the resultant decline in economic growth and other like statistics, our government and its departments have kept mum.
The Minister of Finance, Baledzi Gaolathe, apart from his piecemeal sound bites, has not really come forth to give the nation a proper analysis or preview of what is on the horizon.
We are not certain about whether this is by design, or whether it results from lack of appreciation of the threat to the future livelihood of the nation. Whichever the case may be, this would be a serious indictment on this government's ability to look after the nation.
We urge those who are charged with looking after the welfare of this country to please report back on their constituents on this serious economic problem.
In the coming year we shall see a number of cases in the courts that will enlighten the nation about how this country is governed and perhaps even misgoverned.
High profile cases involving the top leadership of this country will help the average citizen in demystifying the processes involved in running the country, and this is always useful.
This is an election year and therefore it is time once again for the nation to take stock of what it has achieved and what it has failed at.
So 2009 will be particularly important for the challenges and opportunities that it places before the nation.
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