Diamond-Dependent Botswana Weighs $27 Billion Plan to Diversify
Rough diamonds ahead of sorting at a sales center at the Diamond Technology Park in Gaborone, Botswana.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergBotswana lawmakers began debating a 388 billion-pula ($27 billion) plan to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on diamond mining.
The Ministry for State President tabled the draft 12th National Development Plan at a sitting of parliament on Monday to consider the spending proposals. Botswana bases its annual budgets on the plans, which run for five years and outline economic priorities and projects to be implemented.