Botswana has long been praised as a beacon of hope in Africa, a model African country where systems work. Some economic analysts even called it the “Miracle of Africa,” a country that enjoyed consistent economic growth over several decades. Its GDP per capita was once higher than that of South Africa.
Everything remained stable until the 2024 elections, when the people of Botswana decided they were done with the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), and wanted change. They chose a different path by handing power to another party, the UDC.
When Duma Boko was elected President, the initial reaction was positive. In Namibia, we were told that Batswana were smart for removing the old ruling party and its veteran politicians. They were praised for electing a young, energetic president who appointed a cabinet largely made up of youth. We were told Botswana was now in good hands and that Namibia should do the same.
However, after praising Batswana for electing Duma Boko, many people stopped paying attention to what followed next. Today, under President Duma Boko, Botswana, once lauded as Africa’s beacon of hope, is on the brink of economic catastrophe. The country is now borrowing medicines from Zimbabwe and Zambia due to shortages at home. There are reports of nurses sending patients to buy their own bandages to dress their wonds. This week, the government warned that civil servants may not receive their salaries because the treasury is empty. Their currency continues to lose value, bonus payments have been suspended, and President Duma Boko is now facing a vote of no confidence. Their economy is clearly a sinking ship, and disaster is looming.
They say elections have consequences, and the people of Botswana are now experiencing exactly what they voted for, jumping from the frying pan straight into the fire. You cannot take a country from experienced leadership and hand it over to inexperienced people simply because they are young, speak good English, and dress well. That is a superficial way of thinking.
In Namibia, the 2024 elections could have placed us in a similar situation, but thanks to rural voters in the Kavango regions, the four O regions, and the Zambezi region for their firm belief in SWAPO. These voters were mocked as backward thinkers who were supposedly delaying the economic development that the opposition promised to bring. SWAPO was even labeled the “party of villagers.”
What is ironic is that today, those who mocked northern people as backward have returned to SWAPO after abandoning the opposition parties they once supported. The South, Erongo, and Windhoek have all shifted back to SWAPO after realizing that the opposition is better at criticizing and overpromising than delivering. When given the opportunity to lead they disappoint even more than Swapo they criticize.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of E.K. Ndara and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position, views, or policies of Namibia Daily News, its management, editors, or affiliates. The publication of this article is for informational and public debate purposes only, and responsibility for the content rests solely with the author.
Editor’s Note: This article represents the author’s personal opinions and interpretations. Some claims referenced are based on the author’s perspective and have not been independently verified by Namibia Daily News.
