Botswana is a rich country. It was not always this way. Prior to independence, in the cattle age, we were one of the poorest countries in the world. But we were blessed with visionary leadership. It was through this visionary leadership that we pursued our independence, that we negotiated the deals with De Beers, that we put in place structures of governance rarely seen in Africa. Resources were used prudently; Investments were made in infrastructure, health, and education. We were one of the fastest growing economies in the world; the shining star of Africa. The world adored us. We had entered the diamond age.
For the following decades, the momentum it seemed was unstoppable. GDP kept growing, the lives of the citizens were improved. Diamonds were “forever” it seemed. Then in 2008, it all started to unravel, seemingly due to no fault of our own. Irresponsible people, in far away countries started a financial crisis rivalled only by the Great Depression in 1930. Mineral prices and diamond sales plummeted. Uncertainty reigned. Many clung to the hope that this was a temporary blip. Markets would return, normalcy would be regained. But it was not to be. Uncertainty had become the new normal.
The country has been caught unprepared. With an undiversified economy, there appears no easy solution. The nation, spoilt by years in a welfare state, is understandably indignant. How dare the government even start to suggest that it will abdicate its obligations to its people. Expect us to pay for our own education? Our own health? God forbid. Why is it all going so wrong? Are we not a rich country anymore?
I argue that we are still very rich. Even with BCL, and Morupule B, and all the problems that beleaguer this nation. It is the glare of the fading diamond light that blinds us. It prevents us from seeing that we have reached the ceiling of what is possible in the diamond age. That if we are to realise a higher potential, we need to enter a new age.
I believe that that age is the age of the brain. No other country has so many unused brains. And not just ordinary brains. Special Brains. Young brains full of potential. Young brains that have been the recipients of a level of investment unrivalled in the third world. No country has spent as much per capita on education as Botswana has. Yet those brains sit idle at home. Victims of the same culture of dependency, impatient, waiting eagerly for someone to provide them with a job. An opportunity. Anyone. Anything.
But we are clueless on how to leverage these brains. We have mastered mining the ground, but we have no idea how to mine talent. We have invested well in readiness to participate in the knowledge economy. An economy based on leveraging and trading intellectual capital. That’s were the world is going. That is what differentiates the third world from the first world. Where economic value is created through research, innovation consulting, and services. But we hesitate, unsure, still looking back, lacking boldness. We need to regain the visionary leadership that we were once renown for. I refer not to political leadership, but all leadership. In both the public and private sectors, in our communities, in our homes, as individuals, and at all levels. We need to find a way to “make Botswana great again.” And to do that we need to figure out a way to mine these brains. Because though it might not seem like it, this country is richer today than it has ever been!
Chilipi Mogasha holds the positions of Operations Manager and Senior Consultant at InnoLead Consulting offering Management Consultancy and Corporate Training Solutions. He can be contacted on +267 3909102 and innolead@innolead.co.bw
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