From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

FROM POVERTY TO POWERHOW CHANGE HAPPENS CASE STUDYBOTSWANA AND MAURITIUS: TWO AFRICANSUCCESS STORIESCASE STUDYBy normal criteria, Botswana ought to be a basket case: it has asmall population, is arid and landlocked, and is largely dependenton natural resources (diamonds). At independence in 1966, it hadjust two secondary schools and 12km of paved road, and reliedon the UK for half of its government revenues.Instead, at least until the onset of the AIDS pandemic, Botswanahas been Africa’s most enduring success story. Its GDP per capitahas risen a hundredfold since independence, making it theworld’s fastest-growing economy for three decades. All this time,it has been one of sub-Saharan Africa’s few enduring non-racialdemocracies, despite being bordered (and occasionally invaded)by racist regimes in South Africa and the former Rhodesia.A number of factors have contributed to Botswana’s success:Positive governance traditions. The traditional governance systemsof the dominant Tswana tribes emerged largely unscathed fromthe colonial period. These emphasise broad consultation andconsensus-building, a system described by the country’s leadinghuman rights activist as ‘gentle authoritarianism’.A hands-on role for the state. The government set up stateownedcompanies, nationalised all mineral rights, and has runthe economy on the basis of six-year National DevelopmentPlans. ‘We are a free market economy that does everything byplanning,’ observes one local academic.Lucky timing. Diamonds were not discovered for several yearsafter independence, by which time institutions were in place tonegotiate favourable contracts with diamond giant de Beers andto ensure exemplary management of the millions of dollars thatbegan to flow.Lack of a military. Botswana only acquired an army ten yearsafter independence in response to cross-border raids fromRhodesia, so coups were not a temptation.Good use of technical assistance. With only two secondaryschools and 22 university graduates at independence, thegovernment hired enthusiastic young expatriates on long-term192