From Plans to Performance: Why Botswana Must Transform How It Transforms

Botswana Plans New City in Kalahari Desert While Yaounde Unable to Handle Trash on Streets

By Hans Ngala While Cameroon’s 92-year-old, lifelong ruler, Paul Biya, is seeking another 7-year term and promising Cameroonians that “the best is yet to come”, his Botswanan counterpart, Gideon Duma Boko (55) is planning a smart city in the middle of the desert.The multi-billion-dollar project is reported to be a “Dubai-style” city called Kalahari City in the Kalahari Deser,t which covers most of the southern African country.The city will featu…

From Plans to Performance: Why Botswana Must Transform How It Transforms

Botswana can no longer afford inefficiency. Youth unemployment, climate risk and declining resource revenues demand precision and discipline. A new generation of leaders, planners and citizens expects more than promises. They expect delivery, writes DR DOUGLAS RASBASH* This month marks a turning point in Botswana’s economic story. In July 2025, the Government of Botswana launched…