This time of year it is common for us to be reminded about just how far Botswana has come since 1966 in terms of economic growth and human and social development. At independence our country was indeed ranked among the world’s poorest and least developed societies, with an annual per capita income estimated at about 80 US dollars. This is in part a reflection of the fact that the first decades of colonial occupation coincided with a decline in real incomes.
From 1966-96 Botswana enjoyed the highest economic growth rate in the world. At the same time the country experianced one of the world’s fastest rates of human development as measured by such quality of life indicators as the expanded provision of education and training and improved health and nutrition. Also often cited are such additional facts as the virtual absence to paved roads or other basic infrastructure in a country where less than 70 Batswana had by 1966 acquired any form of post secondary school qualification.
