r/Botswana • • Apr 23 '26

Announcement Reminder: Community Guidelines, Posts, and Flairs

6 Upvotes

Dumelang!

Community Guidelines:

  • Please consult the subreddit rules by scrolling down on the right sidebar (desktop), selecting "See More" on mobile, or selecting the link under "Community Guide" (both).
  • Consider adding a user flair (optional) by selecting "Community Guide" and choosing a flair. This lets other users know which district, city, or town, you may be from, or whether your visiting as a tourist.

Posting Guidelines:

  • Title (required): A relevant, short and effective title. This helps mods when reviewing posts, and users when searching for interesting or relevant information about Botswana.
  • Post flair (now required): A post flair indicates the theme of the post (News, Discussion, Political, Casual). While we've included an "NSFW" tag, this is not an invitation to post lewd or edgy content, as this subreddit is for everyone!
  • Body (optional, recommended): Please add context to your post, whether this is an opinion abouta news article, a general question, or a simple description of a photo, like "Sunset over Kubu Island". We require body text when cross-posting from other communities, so you can contextualize the original post in relation to Botswana.

Re a leboga,
r/Botswana Mods


r/Botswana • • Feb 20 '25

So You Want To Move To Botswana?

40 Upvotes

Ah, so you’re thinking about moving to Botswana? Let me tell you, this place has a lot of heart, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it—it’s not all sunshine and smooth roads.

First, the good stuff: Batswana are some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. We believe in "Botho," which means we treat everyone with respect and kindness. You’ll feel like part of the community quickly, and trust me, there’s nothing like being invited to a braai (barbecue) or a traditional event. The sense of belonging here is real.

But let’s keep it 100. Life here can be tough. The heat? Eish, it’s no joke. Summers can feel like you’re living in an oven, and if you’re not used to it, it’ll take some time to adjust. The infrastructure isn’t always the best—potholes on the roads, slow internet, and power outages are just part of the deal. If you’re coming from a fast-paced, modern city, the slower pace and occasional frustrations might test your patience.

Jobs? It depends on what you do, but opportunities can be limited, especially if you’re not in certain industries like mining, tourism, or government UNLESS you have specialties that arent available in botswana (Mainly science and others). And while Botswana is peaceful and stable, like anywhere else, there are challenges—unemployment, especially among the youth, is a real issue, and it can feel heavy at times.

Now, let me be real with you: if you don’t have good qualifications or a solid plan, Botswana might not be the place for you. This isn’t a country where you can just show up and figure it out as you go. If you’re working a job like a cashier in the U.S. making $58,000 a year, you wont be able to get a job here. flat out. Salaries in Botswana are generally lower, and the cost of living can be high, especially if you’re used to a certain standard. And if you’re a young person thinking, "I’ll move to Botswana when I’m 18 and figure it out," think again. Without a clear plan, qualifications, or support, you’ll struggle.

That said, there’s hope on the horizon. With the new government, there’s talk of change—plans to improve infrastructure, create more jobs, and tackle some of the big issues we’re facing. It’s not going to happen overnight, but there’s a sense that things could get better. If you’re someone with skills, qualifications, and a clear plan, and you want to be part of a country that’s growing and evolving, this might be the perfect time to come.

But here’s the thing: Botswana has a way of growing on you. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. The people, the sense of community, the wide-open spaces, and the peace—it’s something you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re someone who can adapt, who values connection over convenience, and who’s willing to embrace both the beauty, struggles and culture, then Botswana might just feel like home.

So, if you’re up for the challenge, come. But come with a plan, with qualifications, and with realistic expectations. Botswana isn’t a place to escape your problems, this isnt LA where you live in lies where you and the people around you are pretending to be something you arent—it’s a place to build a life if you’re ready to put in the work. And who knows? With the new government, you might be part of the change that helps this country shine even brighter.

And If you’re serious about moving to Botswana With The Proper Qualifications, here are the relevant authorities and steps you’ll need to engage with to make your move official and smooth:

1. Department of Immigration and Citizenship

  • What they do: This is the main authority responsible for visas, permits, and residency requirements.
  • What you need to do:
    • Apply for the appropriate visa (e.g., work permit, residence permit, or spousal permit).
    • Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months.
    • Provide necessary documents like proof of employment, medical certificates, and police clearance.
  • Contact:

2. Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs

  • What they do: They oversee work permits and employment regulations for foreigners.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming for work, your employer will usually need to sponsor your work permit application.
    • Ensure your qualifications are recognized in Botswana (you may need to get them evaluated).
  • Contact:

3. Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)

  • What they do: They handle tax-related matters, including tax registration for foreigners working in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • Register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) once you start working.
    • Understand Botswana’s tax laws to ensure compliance.
  • Contact:

4. Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs

  • What they do: They handle citizenship, dual nationality, and long-term residency matters.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you plan to stay long-term or apply for citizenship, this is the department to engage with.
  • Contact:

5. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)

  • What they do: They assist investors and entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re moving to Botswana to start a business, BITC can guide you on permits, incentives, and regulations.
  • Contact:

6. Local Councils (for Residency)

  • What they do: Local councils handle housing, utilities, and community services.
  • What you need to do:
    • Once you arrive, register with your local council for services like water, electricity, and waste management.
  • Contact:
    • Depends on your location (e.g., Gaborone City Council, Francistown City Council).

7. Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA)

  • What they do: They evaluate and recognize foreign qualifications.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming to work in a professional field, you may need to have your qualifications assessed and recognized.
  • Contact:

8. Botswana Police Service

  • What they do: They provide police clearance certificates, which are often required for visa and work permit applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Obtain a police clearance certificate from your home country and, if necessary, from Botswana.
  • Contact:

9. Ministry of Health and Wellness

  • What they do: They oversee health regulations, including medical requirements for visa applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Complete a medical examination and provide a health certificate as part of your visa application.
  • Contact:

Pula a e ne! (Let there be rain and blessings!) mare o ska re bolaya ka pula yoh!!.


r/Botswana • • 58m ago

Casual Looking For Male Gay Bestfriend

• Upvotes

Please 🥹 … why a gay man specifically? Idk maybe its bcoz ive created an imaginary b-friend in my head and now i think i can have them in real life 💁‍♂️
I have “friends” but not ppl i can vent out to, they have their own bfs there.. Theyre just ppl i know and happen to have their mobile numbers.
Im looking for someone 19-25yo.. (im also in that age range)
About Me- motor enthusiast, i LOVE FOOD fr bruh, sarcastic, i love driving!,, open to anything that doesnt involve drugs and others dying..
Yeah hmu if youre interested.. genuinely need a best friend.


r/Botswana • • 19m ago

Discussion Botswana is a young country running on an old system

• Upvotes

Title: Botswana is a young country running on an old system. Nobody’s the villain, but the numbers don’t add up.

For a long time, the rule has been simple: the older you are, the higher your seat. When a young person gets hired into a real position, the first reaction is “they’re still inexperienced.” We’d rather have someone older who’s been around. That habit has outlived the reasons for it.

Look at who actually lives here. In the 2022 census, the median age was 26 and people aged 18 to 35 made up 30% of the population. Only 5.7% were 65 or older. Yet in a lot of offices and institutions, the people making final calls are still in their 60s, 70s and 80s. The decision-making layer doesn’t look like the country it decides for. statsbotsstatsbots

I’m not saying older people need to retire, and I’m not blaming them. The same system boxed them in. They waited decades for their turn, and every professional is chasing the same two things: a better position, then a good retirement. When your next step and your retirement terms depend on holding your seat, you hold it. That’s an incentive problem, not a character flaw. But the result is a blockage with nowhere for anyone to move up.

It also shows in how we design things for young people. A lot of youth programs reflect an older picture of success: farming tools, livestock, the traditional route. But young people are moving toward towns, cities and corporate life. About 67% of Botswana’s population now lives in urban areas, up from 64%. We also send people abroad on scholarships to study fields with no matching jobs back home, so they build careers in other countries. We end up training talent for someone else’s economy. statsbots

The job numbers show the strain. Youth unemployment (ages 15 to 35) rose from 25.1% in 2015/16 to 28.9% in 2024/25, and the youth labour force grew 8.3%, from 427,089 to 467,267. Young women were at 30.7% and young men at 27.2%. More young people are looking for work, and a bigger share can’t find it. statsbotsstatsbots

I don’t think the fix is pushing someone out of their seat so someone else can have it. That keeps us fighting over the same old jobs. The fix is creating new seats: roles that fit today’s economy, investors who build here, and a real place for the people studying abroad to come back to. If we treat opportunity as something we can create instead of something we ration, the skills this country already has would carry it a long way.

Where are you seeing this? Is it shifting where you work, or is it the same story?

Sources: Statistics Botswana, 2022 Population and Housing Census; Statistics Botswana, Botswana Multi-Topic Household Survey 2024/25 Labour Force brief.


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question American Attempt at Making Sesswa. This was so good

Post image
69 Upvotes

r/Botswana • • 1d ago

General [Free e-book]if you like fiction blending African Folklore & Futuristic elements

10 Upvotes

I’ve always been fascinated by the strange things that sit at the edges of our understanding: the possibility of lives beyond the one we know, the mysteries of consciousness, the thin line between the seen and unseen, and the ways our ancestors understood a universe that still refuses to give up all its secrets.

These questions found their way into my 4th book and new collection of stories, The Moon Knows All the Secrets of the World Rooted in magical realism and African cosmology, the book explores strange encounters, memory, grief, love, identity, and the possibility that reality is far more mysterious than our ordinary lives allow us to believe.

I’m drawn to the thought that we might be connected to one another, and to the universe itself, in ways we haven’t yet learned to understand. We arrive in this world with so many questions, inherit stories from those who came before us, and leave with mysteries still unresolved. Perhaps some stories help us sit a little longer with those questions instead of rushing to answer them.

The book is free on Amazon for the next 24 hours

Read/download it here: https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Knows-all-Secrets-World-ebook/dp/B0HCFJ5J76/ref

If you decide to read it, I’d love to hear what you think. An honest review would also mean a great deal to me as an independent author.


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

News Botswana Participates in the FIFA Under 15 World Cup with a Twist

Thumbnail facebook.com
5 Upvotes

For all the football fans out there, FIFA has instituted a unique aproach to U15 tournament, prioritizing exposure rather than finding the best team. Teams play 8 V 8 with 20 minutes per half. No team is truly knocked out, but the best performing teams will rise in rankings and move up the groups until the best team is crowned after the week, being the team with the most points.

By no team is truly knocked out, the idea is to guarantee some minimum number of games, as well as being open to all FIFA member states. Botswana is in team O and will face Belarus in the first encounter this month.

Click link for more info

https://www.fifa.com/en/articles/dates-venues-teams-format


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Question Private Learner Permit

6 Upvotes

Hey guys, do i need a permit to teach my sister how to drive without registering for a driving school? I plan on getting L stickers that ill put on all sides of the car we’ll be using. I have a class B (0 restrictions) drivers license.
So do i need to register with the DRTS or just get the stickers and im good to go?
The “buka ya matshwao” says that a learner driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver and the car must have the L stickers on all sides, or maybe i misunderstood… 💁‍♂️
Eish ha re na madi a go duela di driving school. Ba tura batho bale, gape re bata license ya auto, ke chaa chaa hela bo re hetsa..


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Discussion Let’s Talk Investment in Botswana

15 Upvotes

Good day my fellow Batswana, what would you say is the best sector to invest under? Say maybe you have 25-30k. Where would you pour all this money? And please, let’s not say Betway and Forex😂


r/Botswana • • 1d ago

Casual Why do we call people racist, but never call them a liar?

2 Upvotes

One thing I have noticed in the current day discourse and debates. We have been made to think that just cause something is "bad" or made in bad faith, it necessarily makes it false.

The most racist person alive can say a statement like "Africans In general have achieved less in scientific discoveries and in technology, and education, than Europeans and East Asians, across back in the day and now"

YES, he may be racist, YES racism is WRONG. YES, it was done in bad faith. But are they lying?

The most xenophobic person alive can say, "The long-term effects of illegal immigration, and uncontrolled borders, can be detrimental to the nation and it's a sovereign threat."

YES, they may be Xenophobic, YES Xenophobic is WRONG. YES, it was done in bad faith. But the central question is, are they lying?

I'm not saying you should listen to these people all the time. Most racists and Xenophobes say completely inaccurate things and are too extreme. But are we gonna pretend that everything they say is a 100% wrong. Cause of their stances.

But the thing is, bad faith doesn't equal false. What motivates you to do something does not correlate to how true or false you might be.

I would argue it's more dangerous and harmful to call someone racist or Xenophobic without engaging with their points. If they point out data or something that is factually true. And many people shout "RACIST, XENOPHOBE". Any outsider who knows the truth will now start believing the racist in many other things, too, cause it seems people are scared of engaging with the truth. They see it as a 'forbidden fruit'.

So I would say if someone's LYING call them a liar, if someone's racist/Xenophobic/bigoted and they Lie call them out on their ideology and their lies. But if the same person is all that and mention a VERY TRUE statement, it's best to point out their bigotry AND be intellectually honest by engaging with the true statement.

This is exactly what happens in comment sections in Botswana, South Africa, and Southern Africa. I have noticed this.


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

General BYU Pathway Student Community

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone 👋🏿,

I have recently been told that there are about 36 students studying online through BYU Pathway (the LDS distance learning program).

I'd very like to network with such. If you're a student in the program and in Gabs, please drop me a message. The idea is to create a student community for study sessions, tuition, and eventually, graduation events.


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Discussion What went wrong?

31 Upvotes

I recently went around asking girls what they prefer or want in a man, and 90% of them said money.

My question is: What led women to become this desperate for money?

Just the other day, I met this one hun who saw me carrying a plastic bag. She was like, “Hey, can you buy me one too? I’ll thank you.”

I was like, “Thank you how?”

She replied, “Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean.”

It was clear that she had done this plenty of times before. In my innocence, I actually went to the shops with her and bought her a plastic bag full of the goods she wanted or claimed she needed.

To my surprise, she then asked, “Okay, where do you stay, or should we do it in the car?”

Mind you, this was a UB first-year student!

Honestly, I was disappointed. I asked her why she was doing that and told her she should respect herself. Her response was “This is Gaborone ,am just a girl "

A few minutes later, a call came in from her boyfriend, and she answered it like it was nothing.

I tried to save her, but you know what they say: When she's gone, she's gone forever.

Another thing that didn't sit well with me was how little it seemed to take for her to agree to sleep with someone. I mean, if she saw me a man who, I would say, looks like he's doing well for himself and all she asked for was, say, some sitshebo, then it makes you wonder whether she's used to doing this for even less, or sometimes for free. I Obviously didn't sleep with her cause I knew her body count is double digits and I would be disrespecting myself...The way she looked at me like I was crazy or something 😭😭

My question is: What went wrong?

I genuinely want to understand.

I then went on to conduct my survey, and oh Lord, the things I found out! Gaborone is indeed dirty. I won't mention some of the things I discovered here, but all I can say is that most of the girls I asked said they wanted money from a man.

And these were women from different walks of life: clubbing girls, church girls, insurance girls, and others.

So, what exactly is happening in our society?


r/Botswana • • 2d ago

Question Lost my yellow fever certificate and plan to enter the country with my pdf copy

3 Upvotes

Currently doing road trip in Southern Africa am just realised I lost my yellow fever certificate in my previous country, despite I have my pdf scan copy of the yellow book with showing my all information, vaccination date and clinic stamp. I know Botswana requires traveller to present yellow book if they were in yellow zone countries previously and right a month ago I was in Kenya for 4 days. Now I am planning to enter Botswana Kasane from Zambia Livingstone, will the Botswana officials accept my digital pdf copy?


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Casual Why I Left Art

Thumbnail
gallery
16 Upvotes

​

Many years ago, I can't remember how many (I'm terrible at keeping score of time), I registered for the then President's Day competition under the drawing category. Before I transitioned into 3D modeling I was a fine artist and oil painter. I say that but it never earned me a single thebe, so it was just a skill I picked up and cultivated.

Anyway, I made two drawings using white charcoal (or chalk), using a fancy Faber-Castell pencil on black paper. One was a zebra and the other a cheetah. The drawings were stunning because they came out like photography film negatives if you've ever seen them. I framed them and submitted.

Per the rules, i understood that there would be local, regional and national segments. If your work passed local it went forward and so on. Everyone who lost would have to go collect their work after each segment. But the final winner at the national level would have their work displayed at the national museum.

I never expected anything. A lot of time passed until the competitions ended. People had collected their work but no one ever called me. I assumed i had lost because of i had won they would have called right?? So i go to the office of the ministry of youth in my village. The lady tells me she doesn't know anything, yet she's the one who was facilitating the whole exchange and registration process with her colleagues. They all just collectively basically shrug me off like gtf outta here kid we don't know anything. If your stuff is not back it's probably been lost or damaged, and you signed the papers that said we're not liable, now gtf outta my aircon.

I leave and forget about the whole thing, i accept that I've lost and forget about the whole thing. A while later that same year i was in Gaborone, and i decided to go check my stuff at the national museum. Guess what i find displayed there? What else if not my very own drawings. Per the rules, if my work is displayed it means I'd won. But no, of course such a thing couldn't happen to someone like me. I talk to the security lady and some office lady and get my stuff.

When i looked at the drawings later at home i felt so sickened by the sight of them that i almost destroyed them right then. But the amount of effort i put in stayed my hand. My friend's sister had just gotten married, and i decided to gift them to her as a wedding present. I don't know if they still have them to this day but i hope so. And i never knew who actually won, if anyone, they didn't even bother to announce any winners for any segment.

And that is how i met your mother. I mean that's how i put my pencil and brush down and started 3D. I realized that it was a joke being an artist in this country, no matter how good you are, even if your work is at international standards levels, even the government will toy with it. I never drew or painted anything for many years since then. But the other day i picked up a pencil and made a little gorilla outline. I think i might still have it, after all art is in the mind not the hand, it's not like i don't practice in my head.

As for my 3D work, well I'm also at international standards levels with it, and I'm eking out meager earnings online with my work, the advent of AI is messing everything up but it's much much better than anything i could ever do with art in Botswana. I have attached a picture of my little gorilla outline and my 3D models.


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Discussion Dawn Bell Academy vs COSBOTS: What do you guys think?

3 Upvotes

I've been following the Dawn Bell Academy vs COSBOTS case, and I think it raises some interesting questions about copyright licensing in Botswana.

As I understand it, COSBOTS is claiming P38,276.64 in licensing fees from Dawn Bell, while the academy has challenged the basis of that claim, including the failure to identify the specific materials and authors involved.

What I'm curious about is this: How does this licensing system actually work, and is it fair in the way it is applied to institutions in Botswana? If a school purchases textbooks and uses them for educational purposes, under what circumstances should it have to pay additional licensing fees to a separate organisation?


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Question Place to sell used car?

2 Upvotes

Hi all, I replaced my current car and I'm trying to sell my old one .

Won't post here due to irrelevance, but I wanted to know: what's the best place to sell one ?

dealerships told me the car is too old (year 2005) for them, so I need to sell it privately.


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Question How do you find i find a friend!

8 Upvotes

Hi guys, i 24M Zimbabwean based in Maun. As the title says ' how do you find a friend'. This question has been popping in my mind lately, not that i feel lonely or i dont have people to interact with. In recent years, i have been having these so called friends who have 1 thing or a few things in common and that's sad, be it brother in Christ or a mediocre someone who only talks about girls which is cool sometimes or someone who i only play FIFA with and that's it. But i believe as a guy at some point you should have that one buddy who motivates you in almost everything you're interested in, be it career-wise, business, relationships etc, like that one friend who has a lot of things in common with you, sculpting your bodies together, making that bag, learning same or almost same stuff, having same relationship goals etc. Btw, i love tech, anime, sports, i hit the gym consistently, do cali and always tryna learn new things esp in tech. I go to church, making sure im always seeking the kingdom of God. I drink wine sometimes (yeah still not perfect). Never had the privilege to go to Uni but im not as dump as they think. Oh and this post isnt about scouting for a friend or whatever that. Just suggestions


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Question Let's talk about marriage

16 Upvotes

Am I the only one not interested in the marriage ritual? Like I have nothing for marriage. I don't see mosola wa teng. I'm not saying I can't love someone and commit to them but I just don't see the appeal of marriage. It's like someone said that if a man doesn't marry you he doesn't love you. And in my opinion most marriages are performative. People want other people to see and know that they're married hence divorce rate is sooo high. It was built on the foundation of validation and attention not love. I'm not saying people who marry are not in love. I'm saying....argh you get it. Your thoughts? Btw I come in peace 🕊️


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Question Standard Chartered Users

5 Upvotes

Hey hey, anyone using standard chartered's easy banking account? I would like to ask you a couple of questions. I want to create one and would like to get some things sorted out first


r/Botswana • • 4d ago

Discussion Landlords in Botswana

12 Upvotes

I've been looking for a reasonable priced house for rent in Gaborone for the last 3 months. I have to say this experience has highlighted the greed and total lack of awareness of people here.

They don't repair damages and wear and tear in the houses yet they jacked up the prices for the next tenant without even though the houses are now worse than when the current/previous tenants went in. They seem to expect the new tenants to update their houses for them. They advertise dirty houses that is not fit for pigs to be in. There's no gap (for cleaning and repairs) between tenants. It's on in one out. When I first came here the previous tenants was still in the house (not packed). I never got in until 8pm. I had to spend and extra night on a guest house because of paint smell, at my own expense.

The estate agent seem more pissed off with me for complaining than he was at the tenants for still being in the house. Am guessing that the foreigner treatment. He also wanted me to overlooked obvious damages that need repairing.

When you identify a house on Facebook and message on messenger. They asked for your private number. Why I don't know. They turn up late for viewings. And in some cases they make you feel like you're about to sell drugs or contraband because they will tell you "meet me at this crossing or sefalana I will be in this colour car and you can follow me. Instead of getting there before the time and sending you the pin. Of why are you advising without having the pin? I will argue that if you send the pin first the customers can go and see if they like the area then ask for a viewing and save the estate agent time and petrol cost. Most of the houses are over priced, dirt and in disrepair. These are house between P5k-P8K.

In the last 26 years I've move 9 time and in different countries. This is my first African country and as a black man I am so disappointed and frustrated.

I know someone will come and say "why are you here" or "you can leave" but just know that the way the world economy is going this will come to add problems if this carry on.


r/Botswana • • 4d ago

Question Is Facebook Marketplace worth downloading Facebook?

5 Upvotes

I've never really thought much of Facebook for most of my life, but as of the last couple of months I've seen Americans on TikTok utilizing Facebook Marketplace as a cheaper, democratized, channel of trade, essentially digital thrifting. The response to the products they acquire seems to be overwhelmingly positive and I've subsequently been influenced into considering joining Facebook Marketplace, but to do that I would have to make a Facebook account, which I don't want to do for my own vain reasons, but I would be completely willing to compromise on said reasons if you guys consider Facebook Marketplace worth it.

What experiences do you guys have with it? How frequently do you use it? Would you recommend it?


r/Botswana • • 3d ago

Question What is the App industry like here?

0 Upvotes

Wherr can someone go to find out or hear from what the industry is like in this country?


r/Botswana • • 4d ago

Question Morning after pill/Plan B in Botswana

18 Upvotes

Can you get the morning after pill in a local pharmacy or do you have to have a prescription? If you can get it over the counter which pharmacies have it?


r/Botswana • • 4d ago

Question Where can I get a harmonica in Gaborone?

2 Upvotes

Are they expensive?


r/Botswana • • 4d ago

Discussion Botswana is what happens when Africans are given a chance

26 Upvotes

I'm sure you have heard this phrase from countless Wakanda youtubers/ influencers. But Is comparing our country to other nations who were colonised and how they responded after colonisation, part of a dangerous bias.

First of all, we were a protractorate, not really much of a colony, and African nations (except southafrica and rhodesia, aka Zimbabwe to some extent) where an extraction colony. This means the colonists built infrastructure there mainly for extracting minerals and didn't formally establish nations and working systems, and even potential relocation. While we, on the other hand, were left with just one tarred road and a crappy constitution.

Soo, what happens when colonisation ends? Obviously countries which had infrastructure (which they didn't build, people like to confuse Labour with building, as if a donkey magically owns a farm) They did not have the basics of even running it, they where just handed systems and services. So it was a hard struggle for them to maintain, which is part of a reason why many of them are like that.

But us we literally had nothing, That low starting point made things easier in one specific way and that is we had to build our systems from scratch, so we understood how they worked and could maintain and adapt them, similar to Singapore. Of course, theres also another obvious bias when people compare our growth rates to those of already nearer to their peak lol. ( but I would also like to mention some of our major companies and infrastructure isn't also really 100% of us, for example, debeers, and our bridges and large infrastructure were mainly given to Chinese contractors to build.)

There's really more I would love to say, but that's a topic for another time. And would probably overwhelm you. But wakanda youtubers and prideful Batswana should stop with selective comparing. I honestly really wonder what bias is it, is it selection bias or survival bias idk.