When the new Government took over in 1966 after independence the country only had 12 km of tarred roads. This is the opposite of what other African countries had to deal with so Botswana started from nothing in comparison. Because they had nothing maybe this set them on the correct mindset as there was nothing to be had as they were dirt poor. Whatever they would have had to be created and this is where the building and development process first took place and has continued ever since.
When we look at Africa we see countries that have every natural resource under the planet yet they are all failing miserably when it comes down to their economy. Corruption and self gain is the heart of the problem with "leaders" putting themselves and their colleagues first. This has been the case and will be the case as this is a repetitive cycle that no one can break.
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Debswana is a partnership made up of De Beers and The Botswanan Government with no Chinese involved. This is what the other African countries should have done and not sold out. China is involved in Botswana however but building factories and businesses. They see the golden opportunity of a stable country. Botswana owes the Chinese nothing as they have no debt outstanding to them. How many African countries can say that?
Botswana is the one country that has not gone down that path and is the only shining beacon across Africa. If we take a moment to consider back in 1965 it was ranked as the 3rd poorest country on the planet. In 1966 it received it's independence and up until 1995 was the fastest growing economy in the world. A little known fact that many have no clue about.
Botswana is one of the few that resisted the Chinese aid and sought out investors who would work with them helping them grow. Back in the colonial days most of the agricultural work was subsistence farming which basically meant small tracts of land for one family to farm. This doesn't help the economy as this type of farming normally supports that family and maybe affording them to sell small amounts of the crops to get by. Think of what Zimbabwe did by breaking up massive farms and creating subsistence type farming which actually helps no one. The bread basket of Africa became the laughing stock overnight.
Botswana is a landlocked country with a small population of around 2.5 million people. They have elections every 5 years and has had the same party in power since independence. The aim was to uplift the entire country so everyone would benefit and it has worked with mining and cattle being the main industries. What did help their growth rate was the discovery of large diamond deposits which they have used wisely. Instead of letting everyone in they carefully chose investors who have built trust and have shared in the fortunes. This would be a foreign ideology to all the other African countries and why they are in the positions they find themselves today.
Leadership or lack of leadership is what transforms a country and I know many locals in South Africa who look at Botswana with a tinge of jealousy. The low crime rate along with a high employment rate is what many really want. The Botswana Pula is roughly 30% more valuable than the South African Rand and has been more valuable for as long as I have known it.
This only goes to prove that it can be done if greed and personal interests are taken out of the equation. This year their economy will shrink slightly due to covid lockdowns, but still the economy has been growing at between 3 and 5% year on year. Currently a middle income bracket country the aim is to be a high end income bracket country by 2035.