Botswana broke? Budget Crisis?
(IDEX Online News) – Botswana exported $462.5 million worth of polished diamonds in March, a 50.7% year-over-year increase in exports, based on figures released by the Bank of Botswana. This brings the country’s first quarter diamond exports to $1.019 billion, the highest value ever in the first quarter.
http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullNews.asp?id=35388
Opposition warns of catastrophe.
The president of opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) Duma Boko has warned that the current public service strike could plunge the country into catastrophe if President Ian Khama continues to ignore calls to address workers' grievances.
Addressing striking public servants in Kanye on Friday, Boko said that the recent reports of a Botswana Defence Force (BDF) horse painted "16 percent" [requested raise] at Glen Valley barracks demonstrated the extent of discontent among government employees.
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1062&dir=2011/May/Monday23
Botswana health sector teeters
Gaborone – The recent decision by the Botswana government to dismiss health workers who defied a court order and joined an indefinite strike by public sector employees could hit the country's fragile health sector hard.
Unions are demanding a 16 percent salary increase but the government says it cannot afford more than five percent.
The fired personnel include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and cleaners who were employed in public hospitals and clinics and had joined the month-old strike.
'We cannot keep people who have decided to go against a court order because that is lawlessness,' said the head of the Directorate of Public Service Management, Festinah Bakwena, in an interview with a local radio station.
http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=Botswana_health_sector_teeters&id=5967
BOTSWANA'S MINERALS MINISTER ATTENDING ANTWERP DIAMOND CONFERENCE
http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneId=918&objid=9232
