SADC states lag behind in data dissemination

Member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been criticised for lagging behind when it comes to the reporting and dissemination of information in a way that satisfies stakeholder needs.

Officially opening a regional workshop on debt statistics compilation and reporting in Gaborone on Monday, deputy statistician general, Boitumelo Matlhaga said while substantial progress has been made by member states, there is a lot of room for improvement.

She noted that for some years, a number of countries in the region only went as far as complying with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) General Data Dissemination System (GDDS), adding that they are yet to accede with the more stringent reporting requirements under the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) and SDDS-plus.

Editor's Comment
Botswana at a critical juncture

While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...

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