Managing Resources and the Democratic Order: The Experience of Botswana

The paper argues that Botswana's success is not due to minerals alone but to a combination of professional public institutions, disciplined leadership, and the integration of traditional Tswana democratic values with modern governance. It highlights the role of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in linking revenue to specific projects and the strategic partnership with De Beers. However, the authors warn that this 'miracle' is threatened by high income inequality, over-reliance on diamond exports, a high HIV/Aids prevalence, and an excessively powerful executive presidency.

• Botswana's economic growth was driven by the discovery of minerals, particularly diamonds, which led to average growth rates of 13.9% between 1965 and 1980 and 11.3% between 1980 and 1989.
• A critical element of Botswana's resource management was the 50/50% ownership and revenue allocation agreement between the government and De Beers through the De Beers Botswana Mining Company (DEBSWANA).
• The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) acted as the 'institutional nerve centre' of the state, ensuring that government expenditure was strictly linked to projects included in the National Development Plans.
• Botswana avoided the 'spoils politics' common in other resource-rich African states because its post-independence elite, largely wealthy cattle farmers, did not view the state primarily as a means of self-enrichment.
• The country's democratic stability is attributed to the blending of modern political systems with traditional Tswana values of consultation, participation, and consensus building.
• Despite its success, Botswana faces severe economic vulnerabilities, including a Gini index of approximately 60.5 and a heavy reliance on mining, which accounts for about one-third of GDP and 80% of exports.
• The executive presidency holds excessive power under the constitution, allowing the president to act in his own judgment without being obliged to follow external advice, which overshadows the role of parliament.
• Botswana implemented one of Africa's most radical responses to HIV/Aids, becoming the first continent country to provide free anti-retrovirals (ARVs) to all in need, reaching 90% of patients by 2007.

APA

Sebudbudu, D., & Lotshwao, K. (2009). Managing Resources and the Democratic Order: The Experience of Botswana. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Occasional-Paper-31.pdf

Chicago

Sebudbudu, David, and Kebapetse Lotshwao. Managing Resources and the Democratic Order: The Experience of Botswana. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Occasional-Paper-31.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sebudbudu |first1=David |last2=Lotshwao |first2=Kebapetse |title=Managing Resources and the Democratic Order: The Experience of Botswana |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Occasional-Paper-31.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sebudbudu2009managing, author = {Sebudbudu, David and Lotshwao, Kebapetse}, title = {{Managing Resources and the Democratic Order: The Experience of Botswana}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Occasional-Paper-31.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }