Decentralization in Botswana: the reluctant process

Dipholo, Kenneth; Mothusi, Bashi

doi:10.4314/jsda.v20i1.23893

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…A further problem is that these fiscal transfers to local authorities are determined on an annual basis, effectively stifling long-term planning by the recipient institutions. In light of these realities, Dipholo and Mothusi (2005) have argued that the government does not seem to support its own efforts towards decentralisation beyond mundane talk of capacity-building, and has in fact adopted an over-cautious approach towards decentralisation.…”

Section: Botswana Development Performance So Farmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botswana development vision and localisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Musekiwa¹,

Mandiyanike²

2019

CJLG

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This paper considers how the Botswana government could use the experiences of implementing the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to localise their successor Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country’s new development strategy Vision 2036. Despite the recentralisation of some elements of service delivery (water, education, and health) reversing the decentralisation trend, Botswana attained respectable successes in achieving MDG targets. The localisation of development goals must however go beyond simply establishing effective and efficient decentralised local government units, to implementing local economic development strategies that enable communities to take an active role in national development processes. The primary question that this discussion paper seeks to answer is: can Botswana utilise lessons learnt in implementing the MDGs to the SDGs, to foster an empowered local community? The paper highlights how community empowerment is particularly critical in Botswana; on the one hand given the current over-dependence of the economy on a limited number of extractive, finite mineral resources, and on the other because of the multi-dimensional character of poverty and high income inequality afflicting Botswanans. The call for greater decentralisation in Botswana’s Vision 2036 provides a good example for the Commonwealth as it goes beyond the SDGs’ target date of 2030. KeywordsBotswana; Millennium Development Goals; Sustainable Development Goals; Vision 2036.

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Section: Botswana Development Performance So Farmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botswana development vision and localisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Musekiwa¹,

Mandiyanike²

2019

CJLG

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“…The democratisation process has also provided the impetus for the changing focus of development theories and practice. Consequently, local government has been given a pivotal role in development which is why Botswana's decentralisation is justified in terms of democracy and development (Dipholo & Mothusi 2005), essentially to ensure that the country's democratic tradition and development philosophy is sustained and improved through accountability and the extension of genuine democratic processes to local government or government at the local level (Reddy 1999). Thus, decentralisation is intended to promote greater involvement of citizens and civil society in decision-making with a view to facilitating sustainable locally induced development (Sharma 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the role of local institutions in participatory development: The case of Khwee and Sehunong settlements in Botswana

Dipholo

2017

APSDPR

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Many governments in Africa give priority to rural development mainly because a significant proportion of their populations live in the rural areas where poverty is severe. Thus, one of the goals of rural development is to address the problem of poverty in the rural areas with an emphasis on promoting participation of people in decisions that affect them. The Village Development Committee (VDC) is a village-level institution that is responsible for ensuring that the community actively participates in the development process in order to promote grassroot development. Essentially, VDCs have been established to offer a forum for community engagement in the processes that concern their development with a view to promote a sense of responsibility, commitment and ownership by the community. This discussion is informed by a qualitative study that used semi-structured interviews to gather data. Two findings pertaining to the weak role of the VDC and unequal power relations are seen to be hindering community participation. As such, this paper argues that VDCs in Khwee and Sehunong settlements do not serve their intended purpose of engaging the community as other stakeholders pay lip service to community participation, hence not fully involving the VDC. The paper recommends that the Government of Botswana as the main stakeholder in national development, including the development of San communities, should commit to genuine community participation, while on the other hand the San should be empowered so that they can embrace and demand to be involved in their own development.

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Digitalising Decentralisation Policy Across Regions in Africa

Botlhale,

Dick-Sagoe

2023

Public Policy and Technological Transformations in Africa

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Decentralization in Botswana: the reluctant process

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Botswana development vision and localisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Botswana development vision and localisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Assessing the role of local institutions in participatory development: The case of Khwee and Sehunong settlements in Botswana

Digitalising Decentralisation Policy Across Regions in Africa

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