Finalist — Government category: President Ian Khama
A descendant of the royal family of Botswana’s largest tribe, the Bangwato, President Ian Khama is making changes in his country by emphasising delivery and the phasing out of poverty.
After taking office from his retired predecessor, Festus Mogae, in April 2008, Khama announced the tenets of his government as “the four Ds — democracy, development, dignity and discipline”.
He has introduced many development initiatives in his two years of leadership, including programmes aimed at eradicating poverty in Botswana by 2018, when what are expected to be his two terms in office come to an end.
By stating his aim from the outset to eradicate poverty in the world’s largest diamond-producing country, Khama set the government machinery in motion to achieve this objective.
He also emphasised that service delivery and the fulfilment of promises would be a hallmark of his presidency and that non-delivery at any level would not be tolerated.
He is one of the new presidents in the Southern African Development Community who has been vocal on regional political, economic and social development issues, including the defence of human rights and human security.
He is also a soft-spoken wildlife enthusiast who seeks to protect his country’s natural beauty.
Khama was nominated for mobilising the entire government machinery to eradicate poverty in Botswana.
Under his presidency, new agricultural development projects have been launched, giving free seedlings and fertiliser to poor subsistence farmers. His government has also supported farmers who use new farming methods.
This has led to a good increase in the country’s GDP, with agriculture’s contribution rising to only 2% less than mining, which has been the main driver of the country’s economy for a long time — a first in the history of Botswana.
Khama is a strong proponent of results-based management in the Botswana government. He has made more than 200 visits to rural areas to get guidance on people’s expectations of government, with the intention of crafting people-centred policies.
The judges praised Khama’s forthright stance on national and regional development issues, even when it has meant differing with his fellow presidents in the region. “This makes him a driver of change in the way that governments relate to one another on key governance challenges facing the whole region,” the judges said.