Botswana after Live Aid

Botswana, an economic growth success story, is located in south-central Africa. A small, landlocked country of two million people, Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence from Britain in 1966. In the nearly five decades since, Botswana has transformed itself, moving into the ranks of upper middle-income status to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world, largely attributed to abundant diamond resources coupled with sound macroeconomic policies.

However, this stands in contrast to the country’s high levels of poverty and inequality and generally low human development indicators. In addition, HIV/AIDS remain a huge economic and social challenge. While Botswana’s economic progress over the past 40 years has significantly raised living standards for many, significant and stubborn pockets of poverty remain, especially in rural areas.

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Time Line

• 1966 Bechuanaland is granted independence and becomes Republic of Botswana with Seretse Khama as president

• 1967 Diamonds discovered at Orapa.

• 1969 BDP wins general election. Khama is re-elected for another term.

• 1977 Political party, Botswana Defence Force is established.

• 1979 General elections: BDP wins majority, Khama is re-elected as president.

• 1985 Buildings in Gaborone are raided and 12 people are killed by South African forces seeking alleged ANC members.

• 1986 SOS Children begin working in Botswana and open a community in Tlokweng (near Gabarone).
  

• 1989 General elections; BDP wins majority. National Assembly re-elects Masire as president.
  

• 1998 Masire resigns as president and retires. Festus Mogae, formerly vice president, becomes president under new constitutional arrangements.

• 1999 General elections: BDP wins majority, Festus Mogae is confirmed as president.

• 2000 Devastating floods: More than 60,000 are made homeless.

• 2001 National diamond corporation, Debswana, says it will subsidise drugs for workers with Aids.

• 2004 HIV infection rate falls to 37.5%; Botswana no longer has the world's highest rate of infection.
  

• 2008 Seretse Khama Ian Khama takes over as president.

• 2009 Ruling BDP party wins elections, and another 5-year term for President Khama. SOS Children open a second village in the country; SOS Children's Village Serowe. It includes a small clinic for the local community.
  

• 2011 Botswana’s biggest hospital in the capital, Gaborone is shut down, after a walkout by 300 staff over wages.
  

• 2012 Talks by three main opposition parties aimed at forming coalition fail, destroying hopes of challenge to ruling Botswana Democratic Party. Government says it will ban the commercial hunting of wildlife from 2014, citing a sharp decline in animal populations.

• 2013 Infant mortality is recorded as 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births - a good rate in comparison to the majority of Africa and 145th in the world.