Interview with Molomo

In the Mo Ibrahim Index of African governance Botswana scores third highest behind Mauritius and Seychelles, and ahead of SA. To what would you attribute this achievement? Batswana practiced participatory democracy long before the introduction of post-independence institutions such as a legislature, executive, judiciary, political parties and multiparty elections. Participatory democracy was practiced through the Kgotla system, where adult members of the community had the right to have a say in community affairs.

Lt-Gen Ian Seretse Khama, who is set to succeed Festus Mogae as president next year, is unlikely to change economic policy or political course in a country hailed as a rare African success story.