Botswana, a semi-desert southern African state ranked among the
poorest in the world in the 1960s and 1970s, has emerged as an
upper middle income country in the new millennium and a beacon of
democracy and good governance on the continent and in the world.
Since the discovery of diamonds, Botswana has prudently utilised
the ensuing wealth to improve the lives of her citizens. Through a
succession of National Development Plans the state has provided
social services that have addressed many of the needs of the population.
This trend has continued into the challenging era of the world
economic crisis of 2008-2009 that culminated in global financial
meltdown. The country has weathered the storm but continues to
face several challenges including unemployment, drought, economic
diversification, an on-going HIV and AIDS-related crisis,
and the restraints of a commodity-based economy. However, with
a resilience which has characterised its post-independence performance,
Botswana continues to display an aspect of African stoicism
and care that defines this environmentally compromised land