A Reappraisal of Spatial Planning in Botswana

Abstract

Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa is bordered by Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. With an area of 582,000 km2 the country is slightly larger than France, or slightly smaller than the US state of Texas. Approximately two-thirds of the country lies within the Tropics. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining and cattle. The country is sparsely populated because up to 70% of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert. Botswana’s population of 2.2 million people (in 2016) is concentrated in the eastern part of the country. It is touted that the country is urbanizing quite fast and today nearly, 60% of the people live in classified urban areas. Like most countries in Africa, spatial planning has been practiced bringing order to both urban as well as rural/regional spaces. Many concepts and paradigms have been used to create such spaces resulting in a myriad of all sorts of outcomes. This book chapter focuses on Botswana’s experience of spatial planning and challenges faced with the hope that lessons learnt could enlighten other countries in the continent in their quest for establishing sustainable urban settlements. The book chapter begins by looking at the evolution of spatial planning in Botswana before the colonial era, during the colonial era, and after Independence in 1966. Here, we shall highlight the concepts and approaches used and how they have shaped the urban space today. This will be followed by examining critical challenges facing spatial planning practice in both urban and rural areas especially in the areas of adoption of new urban planning paradigms, the African Urban Agenda 2030, inclusivity, sustainability, urban management, municipal finance, and plan implementation. This will be followed by an examination of the responses by both central government and municipal authorities to these challenges. In conclusion, many suggestions are offered to address these challenges and pave the way for some practical solutions. Lessons learnt from this experience will be shared by other countries in the region.