A new Afrobarometer survey reveals growing public dissatisfaction by Batswana on soaring unemployment, rising living costs and widespread financial hardship
GAZETTE REPORTER
A new Afrobarometer survey has painted a bleak picture of public sentiment in Botswana, with unemployment, the rising cost of living and widening inequality emerging as the country’s biggest concerns as a majority of citizens believe the nation is moving in the wrong direction.
The report, titled Most Africans Continue to Experience Economic Hardship Despite Signs of Recovery, indicates that despite broader signs of economic recovery across the continent, many Batswana say they are yet to feel any improvement in their daily lives.
According to the survey, 60 percent of respondents believe Botswana is heading in the wrong direction, while only 35 percent say the country is on the right path, highlighting growing public dissatisfaction with the country’s economic trajectory.
JOBS AND COST OF LIVING DRAW HARSHEST CRITICISM
Government received its lowest approval rating on job creation, with 76 percent of respondents saying it is performing badly in tackling unemployment. Keeping prices under control was the second worst-rated area, with 73 percent expressing dissatisfaction, while 71 percent criticised government’s efforts to reduce income inequality.
Respondents also expressed concern over the broader management of the economy. Forty-five percent said government is handling the economy poorly, while 44 percent were unhappy with efforts to improve the living standards of poor citizens.
The findings suggest that economic concerns continue to dominate public opinion as households grapple with rising financial pressures.
CITIZENS SEE ECONOMY IN DECLINE
More than half of respondents (55 percent) described Botswana’s current economic condition as either “fairly bad” or “very bad,” compared to just 26 percent who viewed it positively. The remaining 19 percent were neutral.
Public perception has also worsened over the past year. Half of those surveyed said economic conditions are worse than they were 12 months ago, while only 23 percent believe the economy has improved. Another 26 percent felt conditions have remained unchanged.
The survey also reflects growing pessimism about personal wellbeing, with 60 percent describing their own living conditions as poor, while only 24 percent said they were living comfortably.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND HARDSHIP PERSIST
The report identifies unemployment as one of Botswana’s most pressing challenges. Among adults aged 18 to 65, 55 percent said they were unemployed but actively seeking work, placing Botswana among the African countries with the highest proportion of job seekers, alongside Mozambique, Angola and Lesotho.
Afrobarometer notes that unemployment is particularly severe among young people and low-income households, with young Africans continuing to bear the greatest burden of weak labour markets.
Economic hardship extends well beyond employment. The survey found that 82 percent of respondents had gone without a cash income at least once during the previous year. More than half (55 percent) said they had lacked medicines or medical treatment, while 47 percent experienced shortages of food or clean water. A further 44 percent reported going without cooking fuel.