What Was It Like Before Independence?

Fifty years ago, there was a part of the world, more territory than country, called the Bechuanaland Protectorate. It was difficult to reach from the outside world, and was known only as one of the poorest countries in the world and as a result of a famous recent inter-racial marriage.

That  ‘country’, the Protectorate, has  gone, having disappeared from the map of the world and been replaced by  the same place but with a different name, Botswana. Comparing the two is difficult.

There are some similarities, of course, but the differences are enormous.  A capital had recently been established in Gaborone but this was a town of mostly foreign civil servants. Few locals related to it because, never previously having had one, the very motion being unfamiliar and strange.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up