De Beers’ Botswana operations are 50% owned by the state through its parastatal Debswana and through the Diamond Trading Company Botswana. Botswana’s economic future lies in services, according to government. Worryingly, government has not yet resolved its increasingly severe water crisis, threatening urban and economic development in its capital Gaborone. A nonsensical and unaffordable investment by its larger neighbour in nuclear power production will see electricity prices skyrocket in future, and with its 50-70% dependence on SA power, Botswana can ill-afford to maintain this reliance. Africa’s 2015 Ibrahim Index of African Governance has captured a noticeable slide in Botswana’s development with hard data.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 29, 2016 13:07 UTC