Botswana - Economist Intelligence Unit - The Economist
DOMESTIC POLITICS: The BDP, which has governed Botswana during the past 43 years, won the general election held on October 16th 2009 and secured another five years of government. The main opposition parties, which are weak and fractured, were unable to take advantage of the internal divisions that destabilised the BDP in the build-up to the election, as well as the party's deteriorating relations with the private media. As a result, the BDP increased its share of the vote and won 45 of the 57 parliamentary seats up for election. Mr Khama, who came to power by automatic succession in April 2008, now has a powerful personal mandate. A former army commander and the son of the country's first president after independence, Mr Khama already enjoyed considerable support because of his late father's popularity, but the election result suggests that voters approve of his political approach, which combines an emphasis on discipline in public (and private) life with a populist touch.
Country Forecast Overview (3 Year)
| Key Indicators |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
| Real GDP Growth (%) |
1.84 |
-8.90 |
2.50 |
| Consumer Price Inflation (av;%) |
12.62 |
7.70 |
5.80 |
| Budget Balance (% of GDP) |
-3.80 |
-9.30 |
-7.80 |
| Current-Account Balance (% of GDP) |
5.62 |
-5.10 |
-1.50 |
| Exchange Rate US$:Euro (av) |
6.83 |
7.24 |
7.91 |
| Exchange Rate US$:Euro(year-end) |
7.52 |
7.18 |
8.57 |
Botswana GDP PPP & GDP Growth Rates
2004 - 2008
| Year |
GDP in Billions of USD PPP |
% GDP Growth |
| 2004 |
20.56 |
4.21 |
| 2005 |
21.67 |
0.53 |
| 2006 |
23.52 |
3.44 |
| 2007 |
25.26 |
3.33 |
| 2008 |
26.55 |
1.84 |
Source: EIU Country Data
Botswana: risk assessment
| Risk |
November 2009 |
| Sovereign risk |
BBB |
| Currency risk |
BBB |
| Banking sector risk |
BBB |
| Political risk |
A |
| Economic structure risk |
BBB |
|
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