University Botswana Journals
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The Elections in Shoshong, 2024: The Consequences of Defection
Full text linkThe 2024 elections in Shoshong offer an opportunity to examine how the defection of an elected member of Parliament (MP) from an opposition to the ruling party affects the local political landscape. Shoshong was a long-standing ruling party stronghold until 2019, when the parliamentary seat and a majority of the district council wards were won for the first time by the opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Less than three years later, the MP defected from the opposition to the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). None of the senior UDC office-holders or elected councillors in the constituency followed him. This appears to have accentuated the usual conflicts within parties (especially the ruling BDP) over candidate selection – and then who supported who in the run-up to the subsequent elections. In the 2024 elections, the UDC maintained its domination of the constituency by winning seven out of nine council seats as well as the parliamentary seat, thereby ousting the defector. But the UDC’s share of the council vote in 2024 was marginally lower than in 2019 and its share of the parliamentary vote was lower. Whilst the poor performance of the BDP was in large part due to factors exogenous to the constituency, particularly the countrywide resurgence of the UDC and the expansion of the BPF, it seems unlikely that the defector took many supporters with him. In this constituency, in these elections, party proved more important than the individual candidate
Enhancing Democratic Integrity in Botswana: Citizen Perceptions on Electoral Transparency, Universal Suffrage, and Oversight in the Electoral Processes
Full text linkThis paper investigates public perceptions of electoral integrity in Botswana, by focusing on three key aspects of the democratic process: transparency in vote counting at polling stations, the enfranchisement of prisoners, and the oversight role of political party agents in voter registration. Drawing on survey data and qualitative evidence analysis, the study assesses citizen attitudes towards these proposed reforms, and the implications of such reforms for enhancing transparency, inclusivity, and accountability within Botswana’s electoral framework. Findings indicate overwhelming support for conducting vote counting at polling stations to strengthen transparency and public confidence in election outcomes. Conversely, opinions on prisoner voting rights are polarised, with greater support observed in rural areas where voting is viewed as integral to rehabilitation and democratic inclusion. The participation of political party agents in voter registration received moderate endorsement, tempered by concerns about potential partisanship, particularly among urban respondents. The study concludes that advancing democratic integrity in Botswana requires reinforcing transparency mechanisms, promoting civic education, and fostering inclusive dialogue on electoral reform. The findings contribute to broader debates on democratic consolidation and electoral governance in sub-Saharan Africa
Generational Changes in Political Attitudes in Botswana, 1999–2024
Full text linkSuccessive elections have different outcomes because individual voters themselves change their preferences (often because of shifts in what parties and candidates have to offer) and the electorate changes as older voters die and adolescents reach voting age (i.e. ‘generational replacement’). This paper examines the contributions to the decline in support for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) made by changing preferences and the changing electorate, using survey data for the twenty-five years from 1999 to 2024. In some respects, the preferences and attitudes of successive generations of voters have changed in very similar ways, with more and more negative assessments of the performance of the BDP and its leadership. In other respects, however, there are clear generational differences rooted in their formative socialisation in different periods: The generation of Batswana born before Independence were (and remain) significantly more attached to the BDP than the following generations. These are differences between generations, not simply by age or stage in the life cycle. Evidence from focus groups suggests that generational differences are in part due to urbanisation: Voters who migrated to towns or who grew up in towns were exposed to different influences than voters who remained in the villages of rural Botswana were. Historical loyalties rooted in early political socialisation are important, but the loyalties of many urban and some rural voters have been transformed by more contemporary experiences and assessments
A CASE STUDY OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN ARABLE AGRICULTURE IN BOTSWANA.
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This study investigates the risks facing arable Farmers in Botswana and the risk management strategies used to mitigate against such risks. The study used exploratory case studies of a group of Farmers in an area called Mosisedi Farms located in the Southern part of the Country. Data was collected mainly through semi-structured interviews with the farm Owner-Managers. Data from the study revealed that Farmers were largely aware of and could well articulate the various risks they faced. The major risks faced by Famers were crop damage/loss due to adverse weather conditions, crop damage by wild animals and pests, input and output commodity price risk as well as losses due to unreliable labour. The methods and strategies used to manage the risks were largely similar to generic ones used elsewhere. There were however, three areas where the findings were different. First was the use of a strategy we termed risk financing through capital injection and the second was the use of a strategy we termed hazard substitution. Another key finding was that the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (a State-Owned Entity) was a major contributor to the financial risks faced by Farmers. The study concludes that Farmers need to improve on their risk management strategies because some still used passive risk retention for many risks
APPROPRIATE MOBILE DEVICES FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA'S FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Full text linkBackground: The use of personal mobile devices for teaching and learning is gaining recognition in medical education and healthcare delivery. However, research on mobile device use and its implementation tends to focus on technical aspects, sometimes overlooking the sociotechnical aspects of mobile devices.
Objective: This study used the actor–network theory (ANT) as a lens to explore what constitutes ‘appropriate’ mobile devices and their roles in the teaching and learning of medicine and healthcare delivery.
Methods: This study adopted an interpretive approach and collected qualitative data from 27 purposively sampled key informants. Data were analysed using grounded theory techniques of open, axial and selective coding.
Results: The findings suggest that an appropriate mobile device should not only be portable, but also user-friendly, and that it should meet the national healthcare regulatory and communication technology infrastructure frameworks and support users to complete tasks related to the teaching and learning of medicine and healthcare delivery.
Conclusions: The ANT approach to exploring appropriate mobile devices for the teaching and learning of medicine and healthcare delivery broadens our conceptualisation of appropriate mobile devices to combine the desired technical features with users’ preferences and internal/external stakeholders’ requirements
BOTSWANA’S MANUFACTURING SMEs INNOVATION & BUSINESS ACUMEN
Full text linkWorldwide firms are engaged in a fierce battle for the hearts of the masses by trying to produce products which can appeal to them. This is because a nations’ quality of life is linked to the quantity and quality of products and services that can be generated by their entities for domestic and export markets. Exporting products and services enables firms to earn foreign exchange, continue to operate and contribute to the government coffers through taxes. The business environment is faced with tough competition from businesses targeting the same market with similar or upgraded offerings. The ability to hold the fort is dependent on innovative offerings that give customers more value than competitors. Botswana’s manufacturing Small Micro Enterprises face fierce competition from the Global North manufacturers targeting the local and regional markets. Survival of local businesses is not guaranteed, and this paper seeks to investigate Botswana's manufacturing Small Micro Enterprises' business acumen as can be witnessed from their application of product innovation best practices. This will be compared with international manufacturing firm’s product innovation best practices performance. The study adopted a qualitative approach by using a case study approach. The data collection was done through document analysis and semi-structured interviews of three local Small Micro Enterprises. The findings indicate that the business acumen of local manufacturing enterprises is very low due to their failure to observe product innovation business best practices and use of business forecast tools. The findings helped in drawing up the firms’ collective Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis which painted a clearer picture of the businesses position. This calls for stakeholders to introduce proactive business intervention measures especially in product innovation and its best practices as well as in the business side of things
THE ROLE OF EXIT EXAMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Full text linkHigher education exit exams have become a pivotal tool for ensuring academic quality and. This systematic literature review examines the role of exit exams in quality assurance, addressing their benefits, challenges, and evolving practices. The study employs the PRISMA framework to analyze 31 peer-reviewed articles (1994–2024) from databases including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and ProQuest. Key findings reveal that exit exams standardize assessments, align curricula with industry needs, and validate graduate competencies. However, challenges such as inequitable implementation, cultural biases, and high-stakes pressures undermine their effectiveness. Innovations like digital and competency-based exams offer potential solutions but require careful design to ensure fairness and accessibility. The study concludes that exit exams are most effective when integrated into a holistic quality assurance framework, combining rigorous assessment with faculty development and student support. 
PERCEPTIONS OF LOCAL MANDARIN INSTRUCTORS IN BOTSWANA: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF NON-NATIVE CHINESE – SPEAKING TEACHERS
Full text linkMandarin Chinese was first taught in Botswana through the Confucius Institute in 2009, followed by the introduction of a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies at the University of Botswana in 2011. This program includes both language and non-language courses and employs both native and non-native Chinese-speaking teachers. However, research on the advantages and disadvantages of non-native Chinese-speaking teachers in Botswana is lacking. This study investigates local instructors’ perceptions of teaching Mandarin as non-native speakers, using data from questionnaires completed by 8 local instructors. Analysis of the data revealed that advantages of local teachers include their use of the native language Setswana, role -modelling, understanding of student learning difficulties and ability to offer empathy and support. Disadvantages include differences in accent and pronunciation, possibility of errors, extensive preparation time and limited cultural immersion. This study has significant implications for classroom teaching practices and teacher professional development
THE EFFECTS OF SPIRITUALITY PRINCIPLES ON LEARNER MOTIVATION: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE
No full textThis literature review explores the impact of spirituality principles on learner motivation, examining how values such as connectedness, purpose, and inner peace influence educational engagement and achievement. Spirituality, distinct from religiosity, focuses on personal meaning and the pursuit of a higher purpose, offering a holistic approach to education that nurtures both the intellectual and emotional well-being of students. The review synthesizes findings from various educational settings, highlighting the positive relationship between spiritual principles and intrinsic motivation. It also discusses challenges in integrating spirituality into secular education, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches. The analysis suggests that fostering spiritual well-being can enhance learners’ motivation, resilience, and overall academic success, promoting a more balanced and fulfilling educational experience