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The article provides the description of Botswana's politics, economic and social condition. It focuses on actions of government as not recognising any specific ethnic groups as Indigenous; also focuses on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

This paper discusses the dynamics of savings in Botswana during the period 1960 to 2015 and seeks to enhance a contextual understanding thereof through an analysis of its savings composition, policy initiatives, saving trends, as well as challenges faced with respect to savings. The study finds that the gross domestic savings rate in Botswana is significantly high, averaging 26% between 1960 and 2015. Public savings are an important component of gross domestic savings compared to private savings. Just as in the case of many sub-Saharan African countries, Botswana has been facing some challenges with regards to savings. These include a low private savings rate, imported inflation (especially from its major trading partners), and high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality. The study recommends, among other things, the strengthening of policy interventions that particularly promote private savings, while sustaining the current high public savings rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the dynamics of investment in Botswana from 1960 and 2015. The paper analyses of the forms of investment in the country, policy initiatives impacting investment, investment trends and challenges faced in boosting investment. The study finds that the private investment rate is significantly higher than the public investment rate due to Botswana's heavy dependence of foreign direct investment. Boosting domestic investment is essential but challenging for a number of reasons. Firstly, Botswana's economy lacks in diversity and is highly dependent on mineral extraction. In addition, poor access to financial services, high levels of inequality and a high unemployment rate, among others, lead to stifled growth in domestic private savings, gross domestic savings and ultimately low domestic investment. The study recommends, among other things, the strengthening of policy interventions that particularly promote domestic private savings and domestic private investment including economic diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana has made remarkable progress in terms of economic and social development. The position of the government is that policies and programmes should benefit all citizens equally. More specifically, the government of Botswana has recognised women's role in economic development and efforts have been made to integrate gender in the development process. Access to economic opportunities for everyone to development is an overall goal clearly stated in the various national development plans, policies and programmes. Gender plays a major role in the formulation and implementation of these intervention strategies. For instance, the National Gender Programme Framework implemented and monitored by the Gender Affairs Department acknowledges that gender is a key element in the development process. Several strategies have been formulated to improve women's status by enhancing their participation in the economy. Despite these efforts, there exist disparities among men and women in the country. Although women constitute more than half of the population in Botswana, they are more vulnerable to poverty and make up the majority of the unemployed. They are poorer than men, have less access to and control over economic resources and skill training. Female-headed households have to survive on the lowest incomes relative to those households headed by males. To analyse the situation, the paper utilized various theoretical perspectives including the gender analysis approach which covers such perspectives as the Women In Development (WID); Women and development (WAD); and Gender and Development (GAD). The paper also applied the Power and Patriarchy Theory and the Life Course Theory. To present a comprehensive picture of the status of women, the study utilized data derived from 2009/10 Botswana Core Welfare Indicators Survey (BCWIS) and the 2011 Population and Housing Census. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is an original study of the taxpayer attitudes, compliance benefits perceptions and compliance costs of the value added tax (VAT) system in Botswana. In 2009/10 and 2010/11, 600 and 100 businesses, respectively, were surveyed. Respondents were presented with attitudinal statements and asked to express their attitudes and benefits perceptions concerning VAT, using a questionnaire that utilised a five-point Likert scale. Internal consistent reliability of responses to the attitudinal statements is measured using Cronbach's alpha, while responses are analysed using SPSS software. The findings suggest that businesses in Botswana find VAT requirements to be burdensome and VAT compliance costs high. Further investigation reveals that the businesses that find VAT to be burdensome have higher VAT compliance costs. The respondents who perceive the VAT system to be unreasonably complicated report higher average VAT compliance costs. However, these costs are mitigated by the benefits that accrue to taxpayers in the form of improved record keeping, as indicated by 69 per cent of the respondents. The study concludes with policy implications for government, business taxpayers and researchers. This study is significant as it is original and also contributes to the scarce literature on taxpayer attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana experiences low and unreliable rainfall. Thus, the use of effluent water in agriculture is increasingly important. Insect damage is the major constraint for cowpea grain production in the most cowpea-producing lands. We investigated the effects of effluent water on insect pest abundance on cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata) under field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 100, 75, 50, and 25% of effluent water and 0% (control-clean tap water) treatments. Treatments with 100% effluent water resulted in a significant increase in insect pest populations as compared with the control. These results show that the use of effluent water to irrigate crops may increase incidence, abundance, and damage caused by insect pests possibly by decreasing plant vigor. The use of effluent water in agriculture should be addressed in a wise way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botswana has an extensive set of publicly provided cash and in-kind food transfers geared at providing a safety net to poor and vulnerable groups. While such programs have improved household welfare, from a theoretical perspective they could have also created work disincentives or welfare dependency among recipient families. This article tackles this issue by modeling the impact of publicly provided cash and inkind food transfers on farmer participation decisions in the subsistence crop economy in Botswana, using a probit regression and agricultural census data for 2004. Results show that social pensions have had no impact on farmer participation decisions, most likely because they are too small to influence household behavior. However, government food rations (GFRs) have reduced the probability of farmer participation in subsistence crop production, and, hence, have created work disincentive among recipient subsistence families. Specifically, recipient families of GFRs are 8.1 percentage points less likely to participate in crop production than non-recipient households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the restoration of fiscal balances in Botswana after prolonged deficit financing. Botswana is a diamond-export-dependent country; resultantly, it suffered revenue losses due to depressed demand for diamonds during the global economic crisis. Reduced revenues necessitated deficit financing between 2008/09 and 2011/12. Debt was financed through dissaving and borrowing. However, the government restored budget balances in April 2012. While this case study is Botswana-specific, there are general lessons. These are: using a crisis to introduce public finance reforms; eschewing populism aimed at short-term gains; and the need for politicians to take very bold decisions to guide fiscal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

African countries that emerged from colonialism as poor then adopted developmental states to direct their economic development. Using an interpretivist research philosophy, a survey research strategy and document analysis, this descripto-explanatory article asks two research questions: how did the developmental state emerge in Botswana; and how can Botswana sustain the developmental state and, subsequently, move beyond it and graduate into the ranks of high-income developed states? The article finds that the poor state of underdevelopment at independence in September 1966 forced the choice of a developmental state into the hands of Botswana. Furthermore, the discovery of high-value minerals, particularly diamonds, coupled with a prudent mineral management policy, helped Botswana to finance a development state. The article further argues that for Botswana to move beyond the development state, there is a need to adopt initiatives such as mainstreaming the developed state ideal into Vision 2036 and National Development Plan 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representative democracy entails delegation of power to representatives and other actors within the political system. Oftentimes, the delegating party has little insight into the actions of the person(s) to whom power is delegated. Ensuring that the power-holder does not misuse his/her powers is, therefore, a challenge. This article analyses accountability mechanisms through which the delegating party can prevent and detect misuse of power in the form of corruption. The article argues that political institutions contribute towards such mechanisms being available/unavailable to the delegating party. The analysis focuses on the case of Botswana, where executive structures stipulate the accountability mechanisms available to principals. As shown by the analysis, principals have formal access to many such mechanisms. Oftentimes, however, these mechanisms are not applied. The analysis shows that accountability alone cannot explain levels of corruption within executive structures of Botswana but that informal rules also explain the presence/absence of corrupt practices. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There are palpable cracks in the Botswana economic growth success story, most apparent in the evidence of persistent and extreme inequality. This article offers new insights into the Botswana puzzle by focusing on redistributive policies – taxation and transfers – as potential mechanisms to tackle poverty and inequality. The historical analysis explores how the minimal redistributive policies reflect the interests of the elites and how these actors justify their policy decisions with reference to the needs of the poor – an important electoral constituency; and it links policy developments to social and economic outcomes where no comprehensive social security system and negligible taxations means that only the well-to-do are in positions of income security and only the most vulnerable receive some relief. Diamond-rich Botswana avoids taxing its citizens. In terms of citizen engagement and ability to pursue social justice this may be a mistake. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents an overview of the socioeconomic conflict faced by indigenous peoples living in Botswana. Topics discussed include the main challenges faced by indigenous peoples related to the recognition and implementation of their collective rights to lands, territories and resources, access to justice, lack of consultation and consent and the gross violations of their fundamental human rights.

Background: Botswana is one of eight SADC countries targeting malaria elimination by 2018. Through spirited upscaling of control activities and passive surveillance, significant reductions in case incidence of Plasmodium falciparum (0.96 - 0.01) was achieved between 2008 and 2012. As part of the elimination campaign, active detection of asymptomatic Plasmodium species by a highly sensitive method was deemed necessary. This study was carried out to determine asymptomatic Plasmodium species carriage by nested PCR in the country, in 2012. Method: A cross-sectional study involving 3924 apparently healthy participants were screened for Plasmodium species in 14 districts (5 endemic: Okavango, Ngami, Tutume, Boteti and Bobirwa; and 9 epidemic: North East, Francistown, Serowe-Palapye, Ghanzi, Kweneng West, Kweneng East, Kgatleng, South East, and Good Hope). Venous blood was taken from each participant for a nested PCR detection of Plasmodium species. Results: The parasite rates of asymptomatic Plasmodium species detected were as follows: Plasmodium falciparum, 0.16 %; Plasmodium vivax, 4.66 %; Plasmodium malariae, (Pm) 0.16 %; Plasmodium ovale, 0 %, mixed infections (P. falciparum and P. vivax), 0.055 %; and (P. vivax and P. malariae), 0.027 %, (total: 5.062 %). The high proportion of asymptomatic reservoir of P. vivax was clustered in the East, South Eastern and Central districts of the country. There appeared to be a correlation between the occurrence of P. malariae infection with P. vivax infection, with the former only occurring in districts that had substantial P. vivax circulation. The median age among 2-12 year olds for P. vivax infection was 5 years (Mean 5.13 years, interquartile range 3-7 years). The odds of being infected with P. vivax decreased by 7 % for each year increase in age (OR 0.93, 95 % CI 0.87-1.00, p = 0.056). Conclusion: We have confirmed low parasite rate of asymptomatic Plasmodium species in Botswana, with the exception of P.vivax which was unexpectedly high. This has implication for the elimination campaign so a follow up study is warranted to inform decisions on new strategies that take this evidence into account in the elimination campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the economic relationship shared between Botswana and the diamond mining company De Beers which controls the diamond mining industry in the country. Topics include the lack in transparency in the dealings between De Beers and Botswana, and the monopolistic business practices that have become a feature of the diamond industry.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of trading with China on Botswana’s domestic and third markets. The paper also assesses the structure and magnitude of Botswana–China bilateral trade. Design/methodology/approach – The paper used descriptive statistics such as graphic analysis to describe and summarize the basic features of the data. To reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone, the study applied Chenery Decomposition Approach and also applied the extension of Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis. Findings – Botswana mainly exports primary products to China and imports intermediate and capital goods, which are mainly used as inputs in the development of infrastructure in the country. Increased imports from China into Botswana’s domestic market has mainly replaced imports from other countries, and China’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) exports gained market share from Botswana’s TCF exports in the third markets, i.e. South Africa. Unlike Lesotho, the loss of market share by Botswana’s TCF exports in the South African market increased over the period under study. The Botswana Government needs to consider ways of enhancing Botswana’s TCF export competitiveness and learn lessons from China in relation to enhancing productivity in the TCF and other exporting industries. Research limitations/implications – Because of lack of data, this paper failed to estimate the impact of import penetration in the manufacturing subsectors and analyze the rapidly growing Botswana–China bilateral trade in services. There has been no estimate of the impact of intermediate and capital goods on production costs of Botswana’s productive sectors. Lastly, because of lack of data, there have been no estimates of Botswana’s consumer surplus generated from consuming relatively low-priced goods from China. Originality/value – This is the first study to carry out an empirical analysis of the Botswana–China trade relation. The study will be of value to academia and to policymakers who are interested in studying the China–Africa relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to an under-researched area through an exploration of the factors motivating the adoption of HIV/AIDS policies and practices in businesses in Botswana. The focus of analysis is a developing country where HIV/AIDS is acknowledged to have had a detrimental impact on its human resources. The objective of this research was to assess whether a voluntary, non-legally binding National Policy on HIV/AIDS is an adequate motivator for the adoption of HIV/AIDS policies in businesses. The study engaged employers and managers across a number of key sectors in Botswana. The findings are explored through a theoretical lens that acknowledges institutional isomorphism and rational economic decision-making as potential motivating factors. The data indicate that the National Policy on HIV/AIDS had motivated certain businesses to adopt such policies, but a variety of other factors were also found to be involved in this process. There was, however, lack of engagement with the National Policy and with issues surrounding HIV/AIDS by a high number of the participating organisations. The research findings reveal the complexity of factors involved in adopting HIV/AIDS policies in a developing country, and therefore provide an insight in an under-researched area. They can serve as a foundation for future research on human resource management policies and practices in relation to HIV/AIDS in African economies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rural areas are experiencing major socio-economic changes with a need to transform and diversify rural livelihoods. In this context, tourism industry is increasingly used as a tool for local development with an aim to facilitate participation and integration of communities in tourism planning and operations. This study explores the development of community-based cultural and heritage tourism, utilizing the integrated rural tourism (IRT) as a guiding framework. The paper relies on the results of a qualitative study carried out in and around the village of Kalakamati in the North-East District of Botswana. In-depth interviews were carried out with selected respondents associated with Mantenge, Domboshaba and Gandanyemba heritage sites. Based on the interview results, the paper argues that IRT can be a useful tool in assessing development of rural tourism in the country but needs to be carefully contextualized in developing countries situations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In spite of its overall economic success, most citizens living in the remote areas of Botswana face poverty and are unemployed. The article argues that minority communities in remote areas are excluded because education programs use unfamiliar languages and de-contextualized curricula, there is no national qualifications framework to sufficiently recognize the prior learning experiences of minorities, and there is no state partnership with nongovernmental organizations in the delivery of education. Consequently, it suggests that the Government needs to deliver inclusive lifelong learning, endorse multiculturalism, create clear learning and qualification pathways, and collaborate with nongovernmental organizations in the delivery of minority education in Botswana. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents brief information on the training and development in Botswana. Topics discussed including basic data about the country such as geography, population, industrial and economy related data of Botswana, and several prospects of educational policy in Botswana. Information on human resource development, challenges faced by human resource development in Botswana, and academic research into training and development in Botswana, is also discussed.