In an in-depth report on the country’s economy and trajectory released last week, the IMF advised Botswana against seeking a greater stake in De Beers, citing the country’s constrained fiscal situation and its already high dependence on the diamond sector. Speaking at a Kgotla meeting in Kanye on Monday, Boko said the push for full control of De Beers was going forward. Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a ‘siren’ on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement.
That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a ‘red flag’. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be…
