Evaluating Botswana's 50-Year Democratic Trajectory, 1966-2016

As Botswana celebrated its 50-year milestone in 2016, it had to do serious introspection about its successes and failures, specifically how it avoided Africa's traditional frailties of mismanagement and corruption, among others. After achieving its independence from Britain in 1966, it established a unique multiparty democracy with traditional characteristics, despite being a poverty-stricken country with no infrastructure. It consistently enjoys praise globally as a good model of development and democracy. Based on the guiding research question, 'How did Botswana succeed where many African countries seemingly failed?', this paper evaluates Botswana's democracy and its development situation, based on a literature review, theoretical reflection and analysis of its 50-year milestone. It concludes that Botswana has reason to celebrate, despite its recent human rights-related challenges.