African Journal of Political Science

African Journal of Political Science ISSN 3461-2165 Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Impact of good governance on development and poverty in Africa: Botswana - A relatively successful African initiative

David Sebudubudu

University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +267 3552742. Fax: +267 3170706.

Accepted 14 October, 2012

Abstract

Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it obtained independence in 1966. Owing to the desolation that prevailed at the time, Botswana was considered a hopeless case. This article seeks to show case how good governance impacted on development and poverty in Botswana. Botswana is one of the few African countries that have remained intact since independence, despite the challenges it faced, and at the same time was able to realize development and in turn reduced poverty by African standards. The paper argues that good governance in Botswana facilitated development and impacted positively on poverty and stability, to this extent, this has been a responsive democracy. The paper provides statistical evidence to support this claim.