President Mokgweetsi Masisi has attributed the success of Botswana to a strong foundation of democracy. He was speaking at a public lecture on good governance that he delivered at the University of Pennsylvania in the US.

He said some who observed Botswana’s independence questioned the viability of the country as a sovereign state because Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world.

Masisi attributes the rise of Botswana from the ashes, to prudent management of resources.

“Our founding fathers were fully convinced that to better manage the limited resources at our disposal, a constitutional and multi-party democratic Republic had to be in place,” he said.

At inception, it was decided that all deposits and other riches found in the land will be regarded as a collective good, cognisant of the fact that not all the territories in Botswana would be equally gifted.

“Through the Mines and Minerals Act, the mineral wealth in the country is vested in the State. The process of project development from discovery to mine development, is clearly laid out in legislation, with clear regulations and expectations.”

Masisi said this is a key factor in the success of the nation. He added that Botswana’s natural resources are for development, unlike in other parts of Africa where mineral deposits are regarded as a resource curse.

“Our desire is to continue to strengthen and reinvent our relationship with De Beers,” Masisi said, adding that the objective is however, to have Batswana play a significant role throughout the diamond value chain.

He noted that the heavy investment in education since the 1980s, laid the foundation for the knowledge-based economy, which the Government is vigorously pursuing.

According to Masisi, Botswana’s democracy has ensured that accountability through checks and balances, commitment to the rule of law, and separation of powers, are fully enshrined in the national constitution.

“This is a clear indication of our strong conviction that a functional democratic system, will ensure that the primary shareholders which are our people, are at the epicentre of the formation and functionality of the structures of governance.”

It is in that light that the Independent Electoral Commission, the Auditor General, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, the Ombudsman and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) were established to inculcate a culture of accountability and transparency.

Botswana continues to prioritise good governance, democracy, and management of natural resources as a way of life, which is reflected in the country’s stellar ratings in development indicators ranging from controlling diseases, provision of clean drinking water, development of ICT infrastructure, lowering mortality levels among children, high literacy rates, and attainment of an upper middle income country.