Gaborone Hotel 'war' a symbol of national economic unease

If the economy is a cake, many would argue that indigenous Batswana have not been receiving their fair share. Historically, the country’s economic structure has leaned towards capitalism on one end, as espoused by free market policies and socialism on the other, as seen in policies that seek to distribute wealth at national level more equitably, as well as social safety nets programmes to protect the vulnerable.

Analysts say, in the absence of specific intervening policies, the result has been the entry and growth of moguls on the one hand and higher numbers of indigenous citizens supported by social safety nets. Botswana has one of the world’s highest inequalities and the anomaly is the focus of the current and upcoming National Development Programmes.