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Botswana has entered the window of opportunity as occasioned by the bulging labour force relative... more Botswana has entered the window of opportunity as occasioned by the bulging labour force relative to those outside. This paper seeks to give a narrative of Botswana’s population transition and drawing on international experience endeavour to calibrate the extent to which the country might be able to harness the dividend. To this end some variables that impact on the country’s ability to enhance economic growth and development are analysed. The global competitiveness report has been the main source of data used. Graphical presentations have been the mode of analysis used to calibrate on the country’s relative competitiveness in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The country has shown a trend of a loss of competitiveness against other countries of late, a factor the authors argue could tarnish the country’s prospects of harnessing the dividend
The 2011 Botswana Population and Housing Census (PHC) indicate that the country's unemployment ra... more The 2011 Botswana Population and Housing Census (PHC) indicate that the country's unemployment rate stands at 17.8% which is signifi cantly high. This rate of unemployment, as is conventionally calculated, excludes the discouraged job seekers and could as such be considered an underestimation of the real rate of unemployment. This article is geared towards fi nding out the areas of expertise (as defi ned by areas of study or specialisation) most affected by unemployment. This paper is therefore intended to establish the degree to which various areas of expertise are affected by unemployment. This paper uses the 2011 census data and the concepts and variables as defi ned therein. The whole analysis is based on the questions and answers from the census. Of all the unemployed tertiary graduates 8.73% of them were in Accounting. The other most popular programmes or areas of expertise were Computer Science, Typing/Shorthand and Business/Commerce at 7.14%, 6.36% and 5.33% respectively. All these popular programmes were dominated by females at 55%. Introduction From being one of the poorest economies in the world to one of the richest in a predominantly poverty stricken sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana has defi ed odds to become an upper middle economy within forty years of independence. This is also noted as an exception within sub-Saharan Africa (Siphambe 2003:480). The country's phenomenal economic growth was driven largely by the mining sector, in particular diamonds. Botswana has been second to the Russian Federation in terms of diamond production (Hope 1996). This phenomenal performance needs to be construed within the proper developmental economic context. It is within this developmental context that we will be able to place Botswana's economic record into relevant economic perspective. At independence in 1966 Botswana was one of the poorest economies in the world with agriculture, which was largely subsistence, accounting for 40% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The share of the sector dropped substantially and has been oscillating between 1.8 and 2.9 percentage points of GDP in the decade ending in 2012. The drop in the share of agriculture to total GDP could be construed in two fronts. Firstly, it could be a result of the sector's failure to cope with the growth rate of the economy, particularly the diamond mining, whose revenue generation was signifi cantly higher than that for agricultural products. This is even more profound in view of the non-commercialisation of agriculture. The second reason, which might in part explain this development, is the failure by government to transform the agricultural sector through effective and effi cient policy interventions. It is important to differentiate between livestock farming and arable farming in our pursuit to better understand the dynamics surrounding the agricultural sector. Livestock farming, particularly cattle farming, has been a major foreign income earner for the country coming second after minerals for most part of post-independence Botswana. However, this agricultural sub-sector just like mining is not labour intensive and could not be a signifi cant source of employment creation. Notwithstanding its marginal employment generation capacity, the sector could have helped in employment creation if most of the by-products associated with beef production were utilised to the optimum. However, the country's emphasis seems to have been on beef production with little or no attention on by-products such as leather and others.
This article is largely motivated by the observation that gender imbalance have tended to aggrava... more This article is largely motivated by the observation that gender imbalance have tended to aggravate females susceptibility to HIV infection as men used their dominance to dictate on issues of sexual activity with their female counterparts. The paper analyses factors influencing the use of condoms by both sexes and discovers that both males and females respond in similar fashion albeit at differing intensities to determinants of condom use. Using logistic regression analysis we note that education, the never married, those living together, the perception that the partner could be unfaithful and age at first sex are positively correlated to condom use for both males and females. In cases where the faithfulness of the partner was unknown, females were more likely to use condoms whereas there was no observable relationship for males in such cases. There was a negative relationship between condom use and age differences with partner for females whereas the relationship was positive for males. Females who were Professionals, legislators, associate professionals and technicians were less likely to use condoms than the unemployed females. In the case of males it was the associate professionals and technicians who were less likely to use condoms than the unemployed whereas the other professions were not statistically different to the unemployed males in terms of condom use. In conclusion we note that there is no conclusive evidence that gender imbalance impedes the propensity of women to use condoms.
This paper seeks to analyse the structure of Botswana's economy and the degree of success in econ... more This paper seeks to analyse the structure of Botswana's economy and the degree of success in economic diversification. We note that the economy of Botswana has not made any significant success in diversifying the economy away from minerals, particularly diamonds. The failure of the economy to diversify away from minerals has meant that the capitalintensive diamond sector, with its low employment capacity, did not help in reducing the high levels of unemployment. It is unsurprising that the country, despite its widely acclaimed economic success, continues to have high levels of poverty. The paper further analyses the recent economic initiatives geared towards employment creation and poverty reduction such as the Ipelegeng public works programme and Integrated Support for Arable Agricultural Production (ISPAAD). The paper proposes policies which have the potential to diversify the economy, create employment and, ultimately, reduce poverty.
In this article, we examine the potential impact of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Hous... more In this article, we examine the potential impact of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Household Consumption in Botswana. The paper derives motivation from the recent increase in VAT from 10% to 12%. The increase was necessitated by among others the need to find alternative ways of financing the 2010/11 budget deficit in light of the difficult revenue situation faced by Botswana following the global economic meltdown, with real GDP declining by 4.6% in 2009 as a result. Notwithstanding the elasticity of demand and supply, generally an increase in VAT is likely to increase prices of consumption goods and services, as suppliers ordinarily shift the tax to consumers. Given that low income groups have a higher marginal propensity to consume, it is highly likely that poor households will be more affected than other sections of the population. For middle to upper income classes, the effect may be negligible given that they have degrees of freedom to adjust their consumption patterns...
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 2011
OALib, 2014
This paper seeks to investigate the predictors of female condom use amongst female university stu... more This paper seeks to investigate the predictors of female condom use amongst female university students in Gaborone, Botswana. The study used primary data through the administration of a questionnaire amongst randomly selected respondents to determine the factors behind the use of female condoms. Since the dependent variable had three outcomes, multinomial logistic regression was used. It was found out that only known HIV status was inversely related to the use of the female condom. The other variables, namely age, perceived exposure to HIV infection, perception about the female condoms and the respondents perceived risk were positively and significantly related to the use of the female condom. The paper concluded by pointing out that the limited use of female condoms should not be construed as indicative of the absence of safer sexual practices until some factors, namely the use of the male condom and partner behaviors are brought on board. Notwithstanding this apparent omission, the paper culminates by appealing for continued or even intensified sex education on the importance of the female condom particularly in view of the HIV and AIDS scourge.
Botswana Journal of Economics, 2010
This article seeks to establish the extent to which organisations in Botswana are trying to promo... more This article seeks to establish the extent to which organisations in Botswana are trying to promote the utilisation of government provided ARV service within their workplace, by referring their employees to it. To determine the degree of association between the dependent and predictor variables, Chi square and logit regressions are used. The Botswana AIDS Impact Survey Two (BAIS II) data for workplaces has been used. The degree of referral is quite low amongst both the pubic and private/ parastatal sector organisations. Overall there were 23.7 percent of organisations with referral mechanisms for antiretroviral therapy within the workplace, of which the majority of them had educational programmes of some kind. There is a significant positive relationship between the availability of ARV referral mechanism as the dependent variable and the following predictor variables, namely policy availability and a combination of programmes (ProgIndex). Large organisations have a negatively significant relationship with the dependent variable. There is a need for programmes such as peer educators and HIV/AIDS coordinators and HIV policies to be put in place within workplaces in an effort geared towards minimising losses within organisations.
In volume XV of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook, the Research Group on African Deve... more In volume XV of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook, the Research Group on African Development Perspectives investigates the impact of the GFC on economic reform processes in Africa. The analysis is structured in such a way so as to reflect the opportunities and dangers of policy reversals in the face of the GFC. The impact of the crisis on different types and forms of governance in the region is considered. The first question is therefore which macro-economic policy instruments have to be applied in ...
Botswana has entered the window of opportunity as occasioned by the bulging labour force relative... more Botswana has entered the window of opportunity as occasioned by the bulging labour force relative to those outside. This paper seeks to give a narrative of Botswana’s population transition and drawing on international experience endeavour to calibrate the extent to which the country might be able to harness the dividend. To this end some variables that impact on the country’s ability to enhance economic growth and development are analysed. The global competitiveness report has been the main source of data used. Graphical presentations have been the mode of analysis used to calibrate on the country’s relative competitiveness in the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The country has shown a trend of a loss of competitiveness against other countries of late, a factor the authors argue could tarnish the country’s prospects of harnessing the dividend
The 2011 Botswana Population and Housing Census (PHC) indicate that the country's unemployment ra... more The 2011 Botswana Population and Housing Census (PHC) indicate that the country's unemployment rate stands at 17.8% which is signifi cantly high. This rate of unemployment, as is conventionally calculated, excludes the discouraged job seekers and could as such be considered an underestimation of the real rate of unemployment. This article is geared towards fi nding out the areas of expertise (as defi ned by areas of study or specialisation) most affected by unemployment. This paper is therefore intended to establish the degree to which various areas of expertise are affected by unemployment. This paper uses the 2011 census data and the concepts and variables as defi ned therein. The whole analysis is based on the questions and answers from the census. Of all the unemployed tertiary graduates 8.73% of them were in Accounting. The other most popular programmes or areas of expertise were Computer Science, Typing/Shorthand and Business/Commerce at 7.14%, 6.36% and 5.33% respectively. All these popular programmes were dominated by females at 55%. Introduction From being one of the poorest economies in the world to one of the richest in a predominantly poverty stricken sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana has defi ed odds to become an upper middle economy within forty years of independence. This is also noted as an exception within sub-Saharan Africa (Siphambe 2003:480). The country's phenomenal economic growth was driven largely by the mining sector, in particular diamonds. Botswana has been second to the Russian Federation in terms of diamond production (Hope 1996). This phenomenal performance needs to be construed within the proper developmental economic context. It is within this developmental context that we will be able to place Botswana's economic record into relevant economic perspective. At independence in 1966 Botswana was one of the poorest economies in the world with agriculture, which was largely subsistence, accounting for 40% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The share of the sector dropped substantially and has been oscillating between 1.8 and 2.9 percentage points of GDP in the decade ending in 2012. The drop in the share of agriculture to total GDP could be construed in two fronts. Firstly, it could be a result of the sector's failure to cope with the growth rate of the economy, particularly the diamond mining, whose revenue generation was signifi cantly higher than that for agricultural products. This is even more profound in view of the non-commercialisation of agriculture. The second reason, which might in part explain this development, is the failure by government to transform the agricultural sector through effective and effi cient policy interventions. It is important to differentiate between livestock farming and arable farming in our pursuit to better understand the dynamics surrounding the agricultural sector. Livestock farming, particularly cattle farming, has been a major foreign income earner for the country coming second after minerals for most part of post-independence Botswana. However, this agricultural sub-sector just like mining is not labour intensive and could not be a signifi cant source of employment creation. Notwithstanding its marginal employment generation capacity, the sector could have helped in employment creation if most of the by-products associated with beef production were utilised to the optimum. However, the country's emphasis seems to have been on beef production with little or no attention on by-products such as leather and others.
This article is largely motivated by the observation that gender imbalance have tended to aggrava... more This article is largely motivated by the observation that gender imbalance have tended to aggravate females susceptibility to HIV infection as men used their dominance to dictate on issues of sexual activity with their female counterparts. The paper analyses factors influencing the use of condoms by both sexes and discovers that both males and females respond in similar fashion albeit at differing intensities to determinants of condom use. Using logistic regression analysis we note that education, the never married, those living together, the perception that the partner could be unfaithful and age at first sex are positively correlated to condom use for both males and females. In cases where the faithfulness of the partner was unknown, females were more likely to use condoms whereas there was no observable relationship for males in such cases. There was a negative relationship between condom use and age differences with partner for females whereas the relationship was positive for males. Females who were Professionals, legislators, associate professionals and technicians were less likely to use condoms than the unemployed females. In the case of males it was the associate professionals and technicians who were less likely to use condoms than the unemployed whereas the other professions were not statistically different to the unemployed males in terms of condom use. In conclusion we note that there is no conclusive evidence that gender imbalance impedes the propensity of women to use condoms.
This paper seeks to analyse the structure of Botswana's economy and the degree of success in econ... more This paper seeks to analyse the structure of Botswana's economy and the degree of success in economic diversification. We note that the economy of Botswana has not made any significant success in diversifying the economy away from minerals, particularly diamonds. The failure of the economy to diversify away from minerals has meant that the capitalintensive diamond sector, with its low employment capacity, did not help in reducing the high levels of unemployment. It is unsurprising that the country, despite its widely acclaimed economic success, continues to have high levels of poverty. The paper further analyses the recent economic initiatives geared towards employment creation and poverty reduction such as the Ipelegeng public works programme and Integrated Support for Arable Agricultural Production (ISPAAD). The paper proposes policies which have the potential to diversify the economy, create employment and, ultimately, reduce poverty.
In this article, we examine the potential impact of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Hous... more In this article, we examine the potential impact of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) on Household Consumption in Botswana. The paper derives motivation from the recent increase in VAT from 10% to 12%. The increase was necessitated by among others the need to find alternative ways of financing the 2010/11 budget deficit in light of the difficult revenue situation faced by Botswana following the global economic meltdown, with real GDP declining by 4.6% in 2009 as a result. Notwithstanding the elasticity of demand and supply, generally an increase in VAT is likely to increase prices of consumption goods and services, as suppliers ordinarily shift the tax to consumers. Given that low income groups have a higher marginal propensity to consume, it is highly likely that poor households will be more affected than other sections of the population. For middle to upper income classes, the effect may be negligible given that they have degrees of freedom to adjust their consumption patterns...
Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 2011
OALib, 2014
This paper seeks to investigate the predictors of female condom use amongst female university stu... more This paper seeks to investigate the predictors of female condom use amongst female university students in Gaborone, Botswana. The study used primary data through the administration of a questionnaire amongst randomly selected respondents to determine the factors behind the use of female condoms. Since the dependent variable had three outcomes, multinomial logistic regression was used. It was found out that only known HIV status was inversely related to the use of the female condom. The other variables, namely age, perceived exposure to HIV infection, perception about the female condoms and the respondents perceived risk were positively and significantly related to the use of the female condom. The paper concluded by pointing out that the limited use of female condoms should not be construed as indicative of the absence of safer sexual practices until some factors, namely the use of the male condom and partner behaviors are brought on board. Notwithstanding this apparent omission, the paper culminates by appealing for continued or even intensified sex education on the importance of the female condom particularly in view of the HIV and AIDS scourge.
Botswana Journal of Economics, 2010
This article seeks to establish the extent to which organisations in Botswana are trying to promo... more This article seeks to establish the extent to which organisations in Botswana are trying to promote the utilisation of government provided ARV service within their workplace, by referring their employees to it. To determine the degree of association between the dependent and predictor variables, Chi square and logit regressions are used. The Botswana AIDS Impact Survey Two (BAIS II) data for workplaces has been used. The degree of referral is quite low amongst both the pubic and private/ parastatal sector organisations. Overall there were 23.7 percent of organisations with referral mechanisms for antiretroviral therapy within the workplace, of which the majority of them had educational programmes of some kind. There is a significant positive relationship between the availability of ARV referral mechanism as the dependent variable and the following predictor variables, namely policy availability and a combination of programmes (ProgIndex). Large organisations have a negatively significant relationship with the dependent variable. There is a need for programmes such as peer educators and HIV/AIDS coordinators and HIV policies to be put in place within workplaces in an effort geared towards minimising losses within organisations.
In volume XV of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook, the Research Group on African Deve... more In volume XV of the African Development Perspectives Yearbook, the Research Group on African Development Perspectives investigates the impact of the GFC on economic reform processes in Africa. The analysis is structured in such a way so as to reflect the opportunities and dangers of policy reversals in the face of the GFC. The impact of the crisis on different types and forms of governance in the region is considered. The first question is therefore which macro-economic policy instruments have to be applied in ...