Botswana cenbank says power woes to hit growth

GABORONE, June 10 (Reuters) - A power crunch that has hit southern Africa is expected to hurt Botswana's economic growth this year, central bank deputy governor O.A. Motshidisi said on Tuesday.

"The power shortage has hit us very hard, and it is going to be one of the key constraints to growth this year," Motshidisi said during the bank's presentation of its annual report.

The economy grew by 6.1 percent in 2006/2007. Botswana imports about 72 percent of its power from South Africa's state-owned power utility Eskom [ESCJ.UL], which has been struggling to meet demand and has reduced exports to its neighbours.

(Reporting by Phumza Macanda)