NationStates Jolt Archive

Today is the 40th anniversary of Botswana, one of the freest, most stable, and most prosperous sub-Saharan African countries (as well as the least corrupt), and one of the few that is competently run (others being Ghana, Senegal, and maybe one or two others). Congratulations, Botswana!!!!

I have never heard of "botswana" before.

Go Botswana!
*parties*

Who was the imperial power?

Who was the imperial power?

The United Kingdom.

Who was the imperial power?

It was part of the British Empire.

Botswana is also the home of the Okavango delta, one of the world's most important nature reserves with abundant wildlife.

The United Kingdom.
Hurrah!

I wasn't expecting you to say that, I had a feeling it was Belgium and was feeling too lazy to look it up. It's nice to see a former UK African colony success story, instead of the usual failed states.

Who was the imperial power?

Poland.

Hurrah!

I wasn't expecting you to say that, I had a feeling it was Belgium and was feeling too lazy to look it up. It's nice to see a former UK African colony success story, instead of the usual failed states.

Belgium's only colonies were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi (the latter two were acquired from Germany after WWI).

The United Kingdom.

we are so proud of our little colony but I must say isn’t it time Botswana started an empire of its own….

Today is the 40th anniversary of Botswana, one of the freest, most stable, and most prosperous sub-Saharan African countries (as well as the least corrupt), and one of the few that is competently run (others being Ghana, Senegal, and maybe one or two others). Congratulations, Botswana!!!!
Isn't it amazing how freedom, stability and prosperity happen to go together?

Isn't it amazing how freedom, stability and prosperity happen to go together?

Pfft, coincidence ;)

It's nice to see a former UK African colony success story, instead of the usual failed states.

Much of the time, it isn't the UK's fault anyway. See: Sierra Leone.

Much of the time, it isn't the UK's fault anyway. See: Sierra Leone.

True.

Isn't it amazing how freedom, stability and prosperity happen to go together?

W00t freedom, stability and prosperity. And I've wanted to go to Botswana ever since National Geographic did a story on the Okavango delta, it sounds amazing!

Poland.

No one ever remebers Poland...

Isn't it amazing how freedom, stability and prosperity happen to go together?

Yes. Much, if not all, of the credit goes to this gentleman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seretse_Khama). Sir Seretse Khama is without a doubt the greatest African statesman of all time, and one of the greatest statesmen ever, of any country or continent. IMO, far superior to the overrated Mandela.

Much of the time, it isn't the UK's fault anyway. See: Sierra Leone.

I wasn't assigning blame, just saying it's unusual.

If I were to assign blame, most of it would lie at the door of the Cold War and the USSR.

W00t freedom, stability and prosperity. And I've wanted to go to Botswana ever since National Geographic did a story on the Okavango delta, it sounds amazing!

Same here. It has some of the best national parks on the continent. Too bad it's a very expensive country. The government promotes low-density, high-cost tourism. So unless you have deep pockets, start saving your pennies. :(

Today is the 40th anniversary of Botswana, one of the freest, most stable, and most prosperous sub-Saharan African countries (as well as the least corrupt), and one of the few that is competently run (others being Ghana, Senegal, and maybe one or two others). Congratulations, Botswana!!!!

I've been to Botswana. You don't keep your windows open at traffic lights because you'll probably got robbed through the window (although it's the same in South Africa). Also I seem to remember a lot of squatter camps.

I wasn't assigning blame, just saying it's unusual.

If I were to assign blame, most of it would lie at the door of the Cold War and the USSR.

In many cases, yes. But many African basket cases can be blamed on the West- Zaire springs immediately to mind.

But as for Sierra Leone, no other country is really to blame for it, since it was pretty much neutral during the Cold War, and it's had nothing but scummy leaders.

I've been to Botswana. You don't keep your windows open at traffic lights because you'll probably got robbed through the window (although it's the same in South Africa). Also I seem to remember a lot of squatter camps.

It's like that in a lot of African countries. But Botswana's crime rate is very low compared to its neighbors, and compared to some First World countries, for that matter.

Yes. Much, if not all, of the credit goes to this gentleman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seretse_Khama). Sir Seretse Khama is without a doubt the greatest African statesman of all time, and one of the greatest statesmen ever, of any country or continent. IMO, far superior to the overrated Mandela.

A good leader at the beginning can make all the difference for a new nation.

Not to mention they have one of the best literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the best educated female populations in the region; Botswana's done a hell of a job managing its vast natural resource wealth without falling in to the plutocratic dictatorship trap that a lot of other states have (I'm looking at the entire Middle East or pre-1999 Nigeria).

Not to mention they have one of the best literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the best educated female populations in the region; Botswana's done a hell of a job managing its vast natural resource wealth without falling in to the plutocratic dictatorship trap that a lot of other states have (I'm looking at the entire Middle East or pre-1999 Nigeria).

Agreed. Botswana uses its resources wisely. If other countries emulated Botswana, the entire continent could be prosperous.

A very happy birthday, Botswana! Long may you continue to be a stable, democratic and succesful country.

The major challenge now is to tackle the huge AIDS problem crippling the Setswana people... :/

A very happy birthday, Botswana! Long may you continue to be a stable, democratic and succesful country.

The major challenge now is to tackle the huge AIDS problem crippling the Setswana people... :/

Botswana is doing a lot to combat it. Granted, much needs to be done, but it's doing more to combat it than any other African nation, with the possible exceptions of Uganda and Senegal.

Botswana is doing a lot to combat it. Granted, much needs to be done, but it's doing more to combat it than any other African nation, with the possible exceptions of Uganda and Senegal.

Well, it's got further to go than most in that particular field, but yes, it's good to see them do so much to tackle the problem.

Well, it's got further to go than most in that particular field, but yes, it's good to see them do so much to tackle the problem.

I just wish other countries were able to address AIDS as openly as Botswana does. In many places the government is hush-hush about it, or attributes AIDS deaths to "tuberculosis." Yes, it's an uncomfortable issue, but people need to be up front and address it. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away. Instead of only teaching "abstinence only," people need to be taught safe sex, methods, given condoms, and educated as thoroughly as possible on the subject.

Agreed. Botswana uses its resources wisely. If other countries emulated Botswana, the entire continent could be prosperous.

Yup. The natural resources, fertile land and renewable energy potential could all result in gigantic economic expansion and huge improvements in employment and living standards across the continent.

Yup. The natural resources, fertile land and renewable energy potential could all result in gigantic economic expansion and huge improvements in employment and living standards across the continent.

Not to mention most Africans are naturally very hard-working, industrious, and resourceful people. If they had sensible governments, the continent would be a haven.

Yay Botswana! (not where I got MY name, despite the similarity)

That region of the world could use more shining beacons. Well done!

Yay Botswana! (not where I got MY name, despite the similarity)

I thought that's where your name came from. Oh well, guess not.

horray for botswana!!

I thought that's where your name came from. Oh well, guess not.

Well, maybe, in a very, very indirect way. When I was a kid (and this would have been about 25 years ago), my sister and I made up and were rulers of an imaginary country, Upper Botswavia. It is possible that somewhere in there we had HEARD the name Botswana, and were influenced by it... but it is a tenuous link at best. :p

We were also very clear that there was no Lower Botswavia... I don't recall why that was so important, but I do remember we stressed the fact.

Well, maybe, in a very, very indirect way. When I was a kid (and this would have been about 25 years ago), my sister and I made up and were rulers of an imaginary country, Upper Botswavia. It is possible that somewhere in there we had HEARD the name Botswana, and were influenced by it... but it is a tenuous link at best. :p

We were also very clear that there was no Lower Botswavia... I don't recall why that was so important, but I do remember we stressed the fact.

lol

Pula! :)

(That's Botswana's national motto, meaning "Rain!")

Pula! :)

(That's Botswana's national motto, meaning "Rain!")

Aye.