Forgotten world (44): Botswana
The media never mention Botswana (known as Bechuanaland until 1966), but it is one of Africa’s most stable countries, it has the continent’s longest continuous multi-party democracy, it is relatively free of corruption, and it has a good human rights record.
The country is sparsely populated (the population is only 1.8M) because it is so dry (it is home to the Kalahari desert). It once had the world’s highest rate of HIV-Aids infection, has now boasts one of Africa’s most-advanced treatment programmes. Anti-retroviral drugs are readily available. However, the UN says more than one in three adults in Botswana are infected with HIV or have developed Aids.
Botswana is the world’s largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation. iHowever, it is trying to reduce its economic dependence on diamonds with developments like safari-based tourism.
I once spent a day in Botswana.