28th February 2021
At independence, Botswana’s first President Sir Seretse Khama was 45 years old, his vice president Ketumile Masire was 41 and the then assistant Minister of Public Service and Broadcasting, Daniel Kwelagobe was only 27. These are the leaders who are now credited with lifting Botswana from rags to riches.
Ironically, over the years, Botswana’s population has been growing younger, but the country has never had the confidence to entrust its destiny on a 45-year-old president, a 41year old vice president or a 27year old cabinet minister.
Instead, fifty-five years later, Botswana is growing younger but its political leadership is greying. While social scientists are harping on how Botswana should harness the youth dividend, the rest of the country is grumbling about the “the kids these days” and how the country’s youths do not measure up to their predecessors.
Aunt Didi was given a gift of life, which she cherished, enjoyed and sucked the juice out of for nearly 65 years. On Sunday she took her mortal leave and crossed over to a better side. Although she lived with underlying health conditions for many years, Didi was full of life and not depressed about […]
Sir Ketumile Masire, a Teaching hospital with 450 beds was this week reported to be struggling to cope with a record spike in covid 19 patients. This week, 1445 new infections and 14 Covid related deaths were recorded in four days. Confirming that the hospital was overwhelmed, SKMTH Communication and Public Relations Manager, Thato Moruti […]
Siphosami Malunga, Executive Director, OSISA.
It seemed too good to be true. A diamond-rich, corruption-free, democratic, prosperous, and peaceful African country with a tradition of peaceful transfer of presidential power (the incumbent president voluntarily leaves office a year before the next general election). It was.
Africa’s poster child for democracy, good governance, and transparency, for many years in the top five of the best-governed and least corrupt countries in Africa, Botswana was a good news story Africa had to hold on to. But, was it?
Paradoxes
On the face of it, Botswana is a thriving, open, competitive democracy. It has unfailingly held periodic transparent, credible, and peaceful elections – which the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has won since independence in 1965. It tolerates opposition and there is none of the systematic violence seen in countries like Zimbabwe and elsewhere. The country alternates its President after every two term