The aim of this essay is to illustrate the deviant case of Botswana compared to the region of
Sub-Saharan Africa. With the unique transition towards democracy without suffering any
backlashes, Botswana stand out and is termed a success story in the African region. This
single-country study sets out to determine the significance of leadership in the process
towards democracy, together with finding out the strengths and weaknesses this leadership
have generated over time. Also the possible link between national unity and democratization
will be examined. The results that emerge confirm that the political elite has been a major part
of the democratic success Botswana experienced. This derives to first, the pre-colonial
structure where the cooperative traditional leaders actions were vital and bodies, as the Kgotla
assembly was the foundation of democratic institutions. Second, the importance of the
political elite cooperating and performing including policies during the period of decolonization
and the beginning of the transition. Third, the elites management of the natural
resources that contributed to economic growth favoured the majority’s wealth that legitimized
the elite party. Moreover, Botswana’s homogenous social structure and the notion of demos
have contributed to forming a political community that resulted in national unity and has
proven to be fundamental to initiate the transition towards democracy. Finally the elite
leadership strength and weaknesses are determined by the democratic values reflected of the
elite. In early Botswana the elite was aiming for democracy that made the so-called elite
democracy legitimate. The past years has shown a changed towards a neo-patrimonial
structure not in favour for the majority and therefore cannot be legitimized.
2015.