Pair of Golden Jubilees Highlight Tensions, Challenges in Southern Africa

President of Botswana Ian Khama (Wikipedia Commons)

Botswana and Lesotho both celebrated 50 years of independence in the last two weeks. These occasions have highlighted tensions in the Southern African region, as well as challenges that must be surmounted.

Botswana, which organized a nationwide celebration for its golden jubilee on September 30, has been widely lauded for its remarkable progress since independence, with the early years of statehood even being commemorated in anupcoming film starring David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike. Botswanahas gone from possessing a total of five miles of paved roads at independence in 1966 to being one of Africa’s most developed and stable countries today.

However, tensions with its neighbor, Zimbabwe, became apparent as well. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe declined an invitation to attend the jubilee ceremonies after Botswana’s president, Ian Khama, recently called on his 92-year-old Zimbabwean counterpart to step down,saying, Mugabe is “not really able to provide the leadership that could get [Zimbabwe] out of its predicament.”

Zimbabwe’s state run newspaperfired back, calling Khama “wayward and senseless” and ridiculing him for inviting Mugabe at all.

Mugabe’s slight was made more obvious by his decision to attend Lesotho’s independence celebrations only a week later. In Lesotho, the jubilee on October 4 drew attention to thecontinuing political strife in the country. Several opposition politicians currently live in self-exile in South Africa and a no-confidence vote looms as soon as parliament returns to session in mid-October.

This is only the latest in a series of political crises rocking Lesotho since independence. The country’s spotty history has largely undermined confidence in government, with 82 percent of Lesotho’s citizens saying they believe politicians serve only their own interests, according to arecent survey.While both Botswana and Lesotho took a day to celebrate their achievements over 50 years of independence, both are faced with significant challenges in a region still marred by authoritarian regimes, political instability, and daunting health challenges. With improved governance and continued economic growth, these could be a distant memory by the time these two countries celebrate a century of independence in 2066.