A New Dawn for Botswana

Fair use photo credit - YouTube screen shot

Today was a significant day in the life of Botswana as a nation. 

It was the inauguration of the new President Adv Duma Boko.

After 58 years in power the BDP were ousted in a monumental landslide win by the UDC party on election day - 30th October.

It has been described as 'a new dawn'.

The President gave a fine speech and noted at the start that he stood profoundly humbled before Almighty God.

Prayers were offered.

It was a day of great celebration with calls for the new President to correct corruption and give people new hope amidst such low productivity and happiness index scores.

The 2024 World Happiness Report scores show that out of 143 nations across the world Botswana ranks at 137th , falling —as noted by a local newspaper—  5 positions from last year's 132nd position. The only countries lower were Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone, Lesotho (interestingly the 'cousins' of Botswana), Lebanon, and Afganistan which came in last. Botswana's position is ever so slightly higher at 133rd position in the under 30s age group. The over 60's put Botswana at 140th position.

Back in 2018 it ranked at 146th out of 156 countries.

And so this is the incongruity of the nation.

Botswana is a country hailed as the example to the world of a successful African nation and is talked about on the world stage as a peaceful nation, a zero-tolerance for corruption nation, a successful nation, the shining star of unity and peace in Africa.

Yet, here on the President's inauguration day, speeches were made that referenced the problems of corruption ('licking the boots'), low productivity, and lack of happiness.

It reminds me of the question our language helper asked us over two decades ago: 'Why if Botswana is the people who in the whole of Africa were the first to get the Bible in their own language, do we have the highest HIV infection rate in the world?' (which was true at the time).

This is a country where seeming opposites often are true.

Even a tourist book noted as it introduced Botswana to the visitor and explained that Botswana was never colonised but was for many years a Protectorate of Great Britain (at the request of 3 Botswana chiefs who made the trip to the UK to visit Queen Victoria and ask for that protection) that: The best thing Great Britain did for Botswana was nothing, and the worst thing Great Britain did for Botswana was nothing. It has been spared post-colonial tensions that feature in many other African countries but it has also lacked the infrastructure that colonisation brought.

In this desert land of a small population, Botswana instead has gained its wealth through its diamonds, and produces a huge proportion of the world's gem quality diamonds.

So along with all the prosperity and peace of Botswana, and the cultural ethos of 'botho' or 'ubuntu' (which is held up as a sense of respect and togetherness in community for an identity of 'I am because we are') that is meant to bring unique strength to Africa, one could ask why Botswana consistently ranks as so very, very unhappy?

…and ...In case you are curious….The questions on the survey included topics related to social support, positive and negative emotions and loneliness, such as:

If you were in trouble, do you have relatives or friends you can count on to help you whenever you need them, or not?"

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life?

Have you donated money to a charity in the past month?"

"Is corruption widespread throughout the government or not?" and "Is corruption widespread within businesses or not?"

Positive affect is defined as the average of previous-day affect measures for laughter, enjoyment, and doing interesting things.

Did you experience the following feelings during a lot of the day yesterday? 

Negative affect is defined as the average of previous-day affect measures for worry, sadness, and anger.

So it will be interesting to see if the happiness scores change much over the next decade. There are for sure many in Botswana who are hoping for new prospects and greater happiness with the change of government. And I'm sure President Boko is sincere in wanting to do all he can to improve life and happiness for his fellow Batswana. And today he was prayed for that he would have great wisdom as he leads and desires to bring improvement to his country.

But the reality is, that no earthly government or family or community or culture is going to be able to truly provide all that is needed to enable lasting happiness. That is something that only comes through Christ. True happiness and peace only comes through the Prince of Peace.