ADDRESS BY DR. JEFF RAMSAY, PRINCIPAL LIVINGSTONE KOLOBENG COLLEGE, AT MORAPO-A-THULTWA KGOTLA, ON THE OCCASION OF BOTSWANA'S 58 th ANNIVERSARY INDEPENDENCE (30/9/24 (original) (raw)
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2018
Studies into architecture in Botswana posit that architecture in the capital city-Gaborone is a result of the imposition of British culture received through the historical conditions of colonisation and independence. This study seeks to go beyond this generalisation by examining architecture in Botswana, grounded in the construction of national and ethnic cultural identities, a sense of history, the idea of culture and its implication on space. It explores the relationship between identity politics and architecture. It traces various postcolonial identitymaking practices in the city and traditional villages, which I argue, reveal a scenario whereby identities are re-interpreted and re-inscribed as part of the process of postcolonial manifestations of identities in space. Gaborone was planned as a capital city during the transition to self-rule and was envisioned as a mirror image of a nation, this process involved a Contents Abstract i Contents iii List of Figures iv Abbreviations xiii Glossary xiv Acknowledgements xvi Chapter 1 Introduction and concepts 1 Chapter 2 History and context of Botswana: the making 37 of a nation during the colonial period and post-independence Chapter 3 The Imagined Capital City and the cultural legacy of planning a post-colonial capital Chapter 4 The heart of the city and the pursuit for national monuments Chapter 5 Heritage, culture and a sense of continuity with the past in Mochudi tribal space Chapter 6 Recreating pre-colonial monuments and the desire for cultural monuments Chapter 7: Identity politics and the consequence Bibliography Appendices xvi group coordinated by Dr Stephen Walker, who encouraged me to share the research thought process with the group and opened up other lines of inquiry. Archival and fieldwork was carried out with the help of my good friend Omar Bakali who was very reliable and precise in assisting with the documentation of available resources back home in Botswana before I travelled back. My husband Lawrence Mwale was of great emotional and practical support, as he drove me to London and Oxford numerous times to access archives and listened to the endless conversations about the research. My kids-Lethabo and Tseo enjoyed their stay in England and are a source of joy. Many friends back home were also supportive in other ways. Arpuba Podder accommodated and helped me navigate my way in Johannesburg for appointments. Fenny Tsimamma was always a phone call away. Maureen Kalane and Mohamad. IM Al Taha my fellow Ph.D. colleagues always engaged me in meaningful conversations. My writing up period was made bearable by the support of my thesis mentor Catherine Wynn. Finally, this research would not have been possible without the financial support from my employer the University of
Botswana: An Oasis of Hope in the Solitude of the Kalahari
Botswana: An Oasis of Hope in the Solitude of the Kalahari, 2023
The Republic of Botswana, with its tangible prosperity in the achievement of wellbeing for its population after surmounting adverse challenges, constitutes a singularity in comparison to the pathways followed by other Global South countries, and therefore provides an interesting case for the analysis of the diverse factors that may positively contribute towards desired development paths. In that regard, this academic work exposes an assessment of these factors, their effect on the political, ethnocultural, economic, and legal aspects of the state, as well as the perceived influence they have on the desired outcome. Succinct recommendations are also provided based on the sources reviewed.
BOTSWANA'S GLOBAL MENTOR - Z.K. MATTHEWS
Sunday Standard, 2012
The following essay on Professor Zachariah Keodirelang “Z.K.” Matthews’ Botswana legacy is an edited amalgamation of weekly articles that originally appeared as a “Builders of Botswana” series in the Sunday Standard (Botswana) in 2012, with a 2021 ‘Back 4D Future’ reset in the Mmegi Monitor. The essay begins with a summary profile of Z.K.’s life, followed by sections on his formative relationships with Tshekedi and Seretse Khama, his post-Second World War emergence as a leading figure in the Anti-Apartheid struggle, and his final years as Botswana's chief diplomat.
Botswana, Africa's Haven of Ethnic Peace and Harmony: Status and Future Prospects
This paper has the dual objectives to highlight some of the factors that account for the absence of ethnic tensions and conflict in Botswana since independence and to reflect on the future of ethnic relations in the country. It identfles factors such as the nature of ethnic relations during the colonial period, the nature of British indfrect rule, the relatively even development across regions occupied by different ethnic groups, deliberate government efforts to create national as opposed to tribal consciousness and the institutions of chieftaincy as having contributed to harmonious ethnic relations. An examinatn of the current situation, however, points to emerging disintegrative ethnic consciousness. This is evident from three factors: I) The political debates centred on ethnic representation in the House of Chiefs and the fairness of sections 77, 78, and 79 of the Constitution that are sweeping across the country; 2) the appointment of a Presidential Commission to review sections...
An African Success Story: Botswana
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2001
Botswana has had the highest rate of per-capita growth of any country in the world in the last 35 years. This occurred despite adverse initial conditions, including minimal investment during the colonial period and high inequality. Botswana achieved this rapid development by following orthodox economic policies. How Botswana sustained these policies is a puzzle because typically in Africa, "good economics" has proved not to be politically feasible. In this paper we suggest that good policies were chosen in Botswana because good institutions, which we refer to as institutions of private property, were in place.
Culture and Customs of Botswana
The Republic of Botswana, approximately the size of Texas or France with an area of 231,803 square miles, is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa, with just 1.6 million inhabitants. The capital city, Gaborone (pronounced HA-bore-own), situated in the southeastern part of the country less than 20 miles from the South African border, was built from scratch at independence in 1966. 1 It is now home to 10 percent of the nation’s population, while another 50 percent live within 60 miles of the capital. An additional 30 percent of the population lives along the eastern side of the country, clustered around the towns of Mahalapye, Palapye, Serowe, Selibe-Phikwe, and Francistown.