A personal perspective

Botswana

What image comes to

mind when you hear the

word …………

Animals?

Kalahari Desert?

The Bushmen?

No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency?

Not sure where it

is??

It’s here!!

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Namibia

Zambia

And its neighbours are …….

Botswana is unique!

What makes Botswana unique?

African ‘success story’

Stable democracy

Economic development

• Model of African development

• Poorest country in world in 1966

• Highest average economic development in world since 1966

• 70% desert

• 0.7% arable land

Stability breeds success

Rule of law• Not a day of public

unrest since independence in 1966

• Landmark Supreme Court cases overturned government policy

• Conflict with Namibia over Caprivi Strip resolved in ICJ

From Kgotla • Kgotla: political centre +

court

• Every tribe has a Kgotla

• Customary law

• Meeting place, ceremonies etc.

• Consensus-seeking

• Anybody can speak!

• Constitutional democracy

• Parliament + Courts

• Courts

• British common law

• Traditional customary law

To Parliament

• Three Wise Men

• 1885 Khama III, Sebele I & Bathoen I sought UK protection from invading Zimbabwe and South Africa tribes

• UK set up Bechuanaland protectorate

• No UK interest in Botswana: no resources

• Botswana received protection but was never occupied

Strong political leadership

• Kgotla Chief

• Visionary

• Symbol of pride in Botswana

Chief Seretse Khama

• British & South African anger over his marriage to Ruth, a white English woman

• Batswana never had a problem with the marriage

• Sir Seretse Khama overwhelmingly elected President in 1966

• Powerful symbol of democracy, equality & justice for all

Seretse Khama & Apartheid

What’s the smartest thing

that Sir Seretse Khama did

before independence in

1966?

Keep the

discovery of

diamonds a secret

……otherwise Botswana probably would still be the Bechuanaland Protectorate!

Growing international reputation

Botswana role in WWII

• Regular contributor to UN peace keeping missions

• 1992-93 Operation Restore Hope in Somalia

• 1993-94 Rwanda after genocide and in Mozambique

• BDF currently in Eritrea/Ethiopia and in Darfur, Sudan

Peace-keeping role

• Diamonds-based investment strategy

• 50/50 partnership with De Beers

• Profits used for education, health & infrastructure

Strategic outlook on development

AIDS eradication• Significant impact of AIDS

• Government resolve

• National Strategic Framework 2010 – 2016

• Prevention, Reduction, Care & treatment

• Corruption is a serious problem in Africa

• Transparency International rates Botswana highly in terms of its low corruption (30 out of 177 countries)

• Australia is ranked at 9, the USA at 19

• New Zealand is ranked No. 1

Zero tolerance on corruption

• President Khama critical of rogue African states & tribal conflict & human rights abuses

• Strong supporter of UN peace-keeping missions

• Model of African development

Strong leadership in attacking dictatorial regimes

President Khama critical of Mugabe regime & political corruption

Diplomatic relations

• Bilateral relationships• Botswana aid in NSW bush fires• Strong business & mining links• Student exchange program• Current moves to establish a

Botswana – Australia Association in Canberra

Botswana – Australia relations

• Botswana is one of a few African countries to avoid colonial occupation and/or oppression

• Botswana flag underlines the importance of racial equality and positive black/white relations in Africa

Equality & Human Rights

Gender equality• Landmark case

• 2012 SALC brought gender inheritance case to High Court

• Women granted right to inherit property

• Customary law contravenes the Constitution

Unity Dow: first female HighCourt judge

• Vision 2016

• Political resolve: democracy is hard!

• Investment in education

• Prosperity, productivity & innovation

• Compassion, justice & community

• Safety & security

• Openness, democracy & accountability

• Morality & tolerance

• Unity & pride

The future