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1. Delivering a Citizen led<br />
Economic Alternative<br />
1.1 Situational analysis<br />
The Botswana economy continues to overly depend on revenue from mineral<br />
exports. It is characterised by high levels of unemployment, particularly amongst<br />
the youth, high levels of inequalities and exclusion of Batswana from participation<br />
in the key sectors of our economy. The manufacturing sector is marginal and its<br />
capacity to diversify the economy is untapped. Our exports are sold in international<br />
markets with minimal processing to add value. Procurement of goods and services<br />
by government and Parastatals is dominated by foreign suppliers or their agents, in<br />
the process stifling the opportunity to enhance domestic production capacity. The<br />
historically impressive data on economic growth are not reflected in the average<br />
lives of Batswana.<br />
Botswana has an underdeveloped infrastructural base that is not able to open up<br />
opportunities for investment in strategic sectors. In most parts of Botswana, poor<br />
road network, limited access to power and water as well as telecommunication<br />
services in areas that have potential for economic activity remain key barriers to job<br />
creation. Compared to other countries with a GDP comparable to Botswana, we<br />
lack a modernised infrastructure base that can support our drive to attract foreign<br />
investment.<br />
1.2 Our Contract on Delivering a Citizen led Economic Alternative<br />
The key thrust of our economic strategy will be premised on the need to deliver<br />
inclusive growth and job creation leading to improvement in the quality of life for<br />
Batswana.<br />
To broaden the base for economic growth and industrialization, the <strong>BCP</strong> will prioritise<br />
investment in infrastructure such as provision of power and water as well as modern<br />
roads, expanded rail and telecommunication networks in all areas with potential for<br />
economic activity.<br />
To attain industrialization, we shall:<br />
• Put measures in place to attain a minimum of 50% beneficiation for most of our<br />
mineral products by the year 2019. The targeted sectors shall be diamonds,<br />
10<br />
READY TO LEAD<br />
<strong>BCP</strong> <strong>2014</strong>-2019 MANIFESTO
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