Botswana’s Diamond Destiny: Time to take control

The sudden wealth pushed up the currency, strangled manufacturing, and left the country dangerously dependent on one resource. Economists later gave this syndrome a name: when resource wealth undermines the broader economy, you have Dutch Disease.

For decades, Botswana was the exception. It avoided corruption and wars. It invested in excellent health systems, in schools and infrastructure. It partly avoided the Dutch Disease. But make no mistake: it has now caught up with Botswana.