Botswana.

A fence seals off Orapa town in the remote interior of Botswana from its desert surroundings. Off-limits to outsiders, the town was planned for the employees of the diamond company De Beers. It was here that, just a year after independence, prospectors discovered the site of the world's largest diamond mine.

Before this discovery, this arid and landlocked country was one of Africa's poorest. Botswana had limited prospects for growth as the economy relied on cattle-rearing and subsistence agriculture. Since independence in 1966, however, Botswana's annual growth rates have been the highest in the world--bar none. It is estimated that were it not for the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, growth rates would be one or two per cent higher today. The country is typically labelled an African success story due to its political stability and its management of mineral revenues and fiscal resources. Botswana's track record and geostrategic location made the capital Gaborone the chosen location for the headquarters of the regional organization, the Southern African Development Community.

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Botswana's political stability is often attributed to a pre-colonial culture of consensus-based decision-making. This is why 'customary' institutions are integrated in the constitution. The House of Chiefs advises the Government on cultural issues, and most cases are heard in customary courts where legal representation is prohibited. Efforts have been made in recent years to improve the representation of women and ethnic minorities in the House of Chiefs.

In 2008 the UN Human Rights Committee censured the Government for practices that fall short of international human rights standards. It argued that customary courts fail to meet fair trial requirements and criticized institutionalized corporal punishment, the death penalty and the criminalization of same-sex relations.

Botswana's political will to tackle the HIV/ AIDS pandemic contrasted with South Africa's under Mbeki in the early 2000s. President Mogae (1999-2008) broke the taboo in the region by developing a national HIV policy urging a concerted effort to tackle the virus by both the public and private sectors. Since 2000 the mining company Debswana requires that all business partners and subcontractors must have an HIV/AIDS prevention and nondiscrimination policy. In the public sector almost all of those who can clinically benefit from anti-retroviral drugs are receiving treatment. More generally, the social welfare system provides services to vulnerable groups such as orphans and destitute people-and all aged 65 and above are entitled to a pension.

It was the termination of such welfare schemes for a particular section of the population in 2002 that brought attention to Botswana's policy toward the Basarwa/ San or 'bushmen'. The authorities withdrew welfare support in an effort to speed up the relocation of these peoples from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Ironically perhaps, the Government argued that the hunter-gatherers could not benefit equally from development if they remained in the Reserve, because services were too costly. The Government also argued that wildlife conservation in the Reserve was now at risk because hunting traps and farming were on the increase.

In 2006 the High Court recognized the San's right to return to the Reserve, but it also decided that the Government was under no obligation to provide services there. The Government has continued to restrict access to water boreholes and has stopped issuing hunting licences to the San while conceding these permits for tourism purposes.

Policy towards the San only changed in the 1980s. Critics argue that dispossession, not welfare, lies behind this change of policy. Relocation has coincided with increased diamond prospecting in the Reserve and with a groundbreaking case in 2003 that recognized South African indigenous peoples; right to land and minerals in their territory.

At a glance

Leader: President Seretse Khama Ian Khama.

Economy: GNI per capita $5,900 (Namibia $3,230, UK $40,180).

Monetary unit: Pula (BWP). Main exports: Diamonds (70-80%), copper-nickel ore, sodaash, textiles, meat. Average annual economic growth has been 8%. The mining company Debswana is a 50-50 joint venture between the Government of Botswana and the transnational De Beers. Efforts have been made to create jobs outside the diamond industry, including in upmarket tourism (16% of GDP in 2007).

People: 1.9 million. The AIDS pandemic has affected the demographic structure of Botswana, with increased death-rates, declining fertility and an increase in the number of orphans.

Health: Infant mortality 90 per 1,000 live births (Namibia 45, UK 5)--double Botswana's own rate in 1990 due to the impact of AIDS. Botswana has the second-highest HIV prevalence rate in the world (after Swaziland) at 24%. But rates peaked in 2003 at 37%, and the high rates may in fact indicate the success of government-sponsored anti-retroviral therapy, as those infected with HIV continue to survive.

Environment: The EU is the main importer of Botswana's beef. Tight controls have led to increased fencing of cattle, altering the migratory paths of wildlife which has resulted in a decline in their l numbers. Environmental conservation is crucial to the tourism industry.

Culture: The constitution does not recognize an indigenous population but archaeological finds suggest the San have lived here for 10,000 years. Tswana people now make up 90% of the population. Cattle rearing is of great cultural significance, although its economic significance has declined. Religion. There are many Christians (both Catholic and Protestant) and many following traditional African religions such as Badimo; many practise a melange of the two.

Languages: English and Setswana (official). Others include Kalanga, Sekgalagadi and Semukushu.

Human Development Index: 1990 0.674; 2005 0.654 (Namibia 0.650, UK 0.946). Sources: UNDP, UNICEF, UN Common Country Assessment 2008, Ditshwanelo.org.bw, www.freemedia.at

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Last profiled October 1991

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Star ratings

INCOME DISTRIBUTION

FAIR

Botswana has pursued an inclusive growth strategy but inequality and poverty remain high for a middle-income country. The rural economy has stagnated since independence.

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1991 GOOD

LIFE EXPECTANCY APPALLING

49 years (Namibia 52, UK 79). The AIDS pandemic has reduced life expectancy from 58 years when last profiled.

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1991 GOOD

LITERACY GOOD

81%. Government expenditure on education is high, and provides 10 years of universal education. The quality of teaching, though, is poor.

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1991 GOOD

POSITION OF WOMEN FAIR

The Unity Dow case in 2004 initiated a review of discriminatory laws. But the customary legal system continues to disadvantage women, and research links the patriarchal system with the spread of HIV.

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1991 FAIR

FREEDOM FAIR

Public media reflect the official stance of the Government. The Government has been accused of punishing private newspapers that have exposed corruption by denying them public sector advertising.

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1991 EXCELLENT

SEXUAL MINORITIES POOR

Sections 167 and 167 of the penal code criminalize same-sex relations with up to 7 years' imprisonment. Botswana society is generally intolerant.

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NI assessment

POLITICS GOOD

The President appoints the Vice-President, who then automatically becomes the next President. The appointment in 2008 of President Ian Khama -son of independence leader Seretse Khama--sparked debate as to whether this process is democratic, especially since power is highly centralized in the President. The recent treatment of the San has been reprehensible. But the Government deserves credit for the way it has tackled the AIDS crisis and for welfare measures such as introducing a state old-age pension.