TWO gleaming new towers rise from the dry savannah of Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. The country’s tallest buildings are billed by their developers as offering the city’s residents “their first true glimpse into the benefits of inner-city dwelling”. No doubt these stylish apartments make comfortable pads—particularly for the mistresses of wealthy businessmen who are installed in quite a few—but building upwards rather than outwards seems rather odd: at four people per square kilometre, Botswana is one of the world’s least densely populated countries. Yet Gaborone’s small city centre—originally designed for 20,000 people, a tenth of the current number—is hemmed in by communally owned tribal land that is almost impossible to buy and develop. It must grow up or not at all.
Botswana’s wider economy and polity are similarly constrained by outmoded traditions and laws, even though at first blush the country is doing astoundingly well. Since its independence from Britain in 1966, Botswana has been one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous democracies. Elections are so peaceful, fair—barring a little...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/1J5hEfQ
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