Local economist, Dr. Keith Jefferis spoke at a conference at the end of October about the effect of the financial crisis on Botswana's diamond sales. Mmegi reported on the conference.
"If our diamond exports fall for a prolonged period, we will have to adjust to lower levels of income and consumption, and that will reflect in our living standards," said Jefferis.
"If the US economy is still under this heat by the middle of next year, we are going to have to start making some adjustments, which might include less government expenditure and a tighter monetary policy."
These are sad words for the ears of a poorly paid Motswana writer. I have two big pending projects for next year, a radio drama and a TV series, and both depend on government money. No diamond sales, no government money, no project= poor me!!
People out there please buy Botswana diamonds. Our diamonds build schools, pay for our national healthcare system, purchase ARV's for our quite large population of HIV positive people, and keep writers from starving (among many other things).
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