Botswana

The Republic of Botswana is a multiparty democracy with a stable and progressive political climate. Botswana has four main political parties and numerous minor parties. National politics has been dominated by the Botswana Democratic Party, which has won every presidential election since independence in 1966.

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since its independence. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country. Mining has fueled much of Botswana's economic expansion. Other economic activities include tourism, agriculture (especially beef production), food processing, and light industrial manufacturing. Despite its high gross domestic product (GDP), Botswana suffers from a high unemployment and income disparity.

The government has managed the country's resources prudently and has kept its recurrent expenditures within its revenue, allowing for investment in human and physical capital improvements. While Botswana has experienced extremely high rates of growth, it also has experienced the most acute ravages of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV/AIDS is much more than a health problem in Botswana,it is a development problem that will impact all aspects of Botswana life for years to come.

From 1966 to 1997, Peace Corps projects touched nearly all aspects of Botswana's development, including assignments as diverse as teacher trainers, nursing tutors, entomologists, game wardens, and small business advisors. Peace Corps Volunteers filled significant gaps in manpower and, in many cases, made singular contributions to Botswana's progress. There are many leading figures in Botswana today who had a Peace Corps teacher or counterpart in their past.

Due to Botswana's economic success, the Peace Corps program closed in 1997.

However, in 1998, the government declared HIV/AIDS a national crisis, and President Mogae dedicated his first five years in office to fighting HIV/AIDS, poverty, and unemployment. The government of Botswana has enlisted the aid of civil society, international agencies, governments, and volunteer organizations to help the Botswana people address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In 2003, the Peace Corps returned to Botswana. Currently Volunteers are:

• Helping to build capacity at the district and village levels in HIV/AIDS serving organizations
• Assisting in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS prevention activities into development projects
• Providing technical assistance to the government's home-based and orphan care programs, and
• Helping to promote the prevention of mother-to-child transmission in four selected districts.

Last updated Sep 28 2008