Botswana at 50: There are reasons to question the country’s fragility
By Olmo von Meijenfeldt
Botswana has been an inspiration for those aspiring to non-racialism, good governance and development for decades. It served as the living proof of apartheid’s folly and fallacy until Namibia and South Africa’s transition to democracy in the 1990’s. But on the eve of its 50 years of independence celebrations on 30 September caution is warranted, for its achievements appear fragile.
In Gaborone preparations are in full swing for the celebrations. The national flag with its blue, white and black flies high on masts along its main arteries. Workers have been repainting the national colors on ornaments on traffic circles.
The military has been practicing incessantly for what will surely be an impressive parade on the 30th, of big cannons, aircraft and new combat machinery. The army seems to have come far from its non-existence in 1976 to where it is today.
Botswana has done well for large land-locked nations of few – 2.6 million people – who live in a semi-desert.
