How Botswana Rose From Grass To Grace – Botswana’s Success Story
Hello Displorers, Welcome back to another Facinating Video and Thanks for watching, In this Video we are going to take you on the Journey on How Botswana went from one of the poorest countries not only in Africa but the world to becoming one of the Richest on the continent of Africa.
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Before we dive into how Botswana went from poor to rich let’s look at some fast facts about Botswana
Fast Facts About Botswana
Botswana is a country located in the Southern Part of Africa, The country is topographically flat with about 70% of its total Surface area comprising of the Kalahari Desert.It is bordered by Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The country currently has a population of 2.2 million people and is the 23rd Largest country in Africa by Surface area. Gaborone is its capital and largest city and the official Language of the country is English and Setswana. With a Nominal GDP of about 19.6 Billion Dollars and a Nominal Per capita income of 8.263 dollars, Botswana is currently the Fifth Richest Country in Africa. According to the Corruption Perception index Botswana is least Corrupt and most politically stable country in Africa, Its Police force is the least corrupt and one of the most efficient in Africa. Botswana is also one of the most developed Countries on the continent with a Human Development index of more than 0.7. making it to have one of the strongest passports on the continent behind Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa. When it comes to peace and friendliness, the Country tops the charts in Africa.
Looking at Botswana today one will think the country has always been this successful but honestly that is far from the truth, So lets start from the very beginning.
Botwsana’s Background
Upon Gaining independence from Britain in September 1966, Botswana which had a population of about Half a million was the second poorest country in the world only ahead of Burundi, The colonial masters left the country with practically Nothing, there were very little paved roads , no universities, No Hospitals and only a handful of the population were literate, infact to be more practical there were about 22 people in Botswana who had attended university in other countries and less than a 100 had graduated from High school. The majority of the people of botwana at that time were cattle rearers and subsistent farmers, Due the presence of the Kalahari desert in the country, Drought was a major problem plaguing the country causing high deaths rates and overall misery. Fast forward to 2020 Botswana has become a strong force for on the continent to reckon with.
The Big question now is, How did Botswana Become so successful, What made the country rise to becoming one of the Economic Success store . Straight Answer …its Very first President , Sir Seretse Khama.
How Did Botswana Become Rich
When Botswana gained its independence, Sir Seretse Khama became the first President of the country. Prior to becoming the president there were a lot of controversies surrounding Sir seretse Khama particularly his ideologies and marriage. Born into an influential African royal family of what was then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, he was educated abroad in neighbouring South Africa and in the United Kingdom. He married a British woman, Ruth Williams, which as a union between a black man and a white woman was controversial, particularly with the National Party government in South Africa as well as among the British and the Bangwato.
The international ramifications of his marriage were not, however, so easily resolved. Having banned interracial marriage in 1949 under the apartheid system, South Africa's government opposed having an interracial couple ruling just across their northern border. The couple was banned from entering South Africa, including Mafeking, which then operated as the administrative capital of Bechuanaland. Since Bechuanaland was then a British protectorate (not a colony), the South African government immediately exerted pressure on the UK to have Khama removed from his chieftainship. In 1951 Khama and his wife were exiled from Bechuanaland. In 1956, both Khama and his wife were allowed to return to Bechuanaland as private citizens, after he had renounced the tribal throne. Khama began an unsuccessful stint as a cattle rancher. He became involved in local politics, being elected to the tribal council in 1957 as its secretary. In 1961 he became fully involved in Politics and created the Bechuanaland Democratic party. His exile gave him an increased credibility with an
