Mineral‐based Growth and Development‐generated Socioeconomic Problems in Botswana

. Botswana's record of economic growth and political stability stands in sharp contrast to the economic stagnation and political turmoil endemic to Africa. Its progress was based on its fortuitous endowment of mineral wealth, and sound macroeconomic management. In effect, diamond, copper, nickel and coal mining has transformed Botswana from a least‐developed, rural, agriculture‐based economy into one of Africa's fastest growing, non fuel mineral exporting countries The Government has forged fiscal linkages between the companies operating in the mining sector and its public revenue collections. However, no such strong linkages have been established to the agricultural sector—particularly, to remote, rural, traditional farming areas where most of the country's people live. The growth strategy has produced underdevelopment and economic stagnation in rural agriculture, as well as increasing economic dependency on the Republic of South Africa.