Page 17 - Meetings Botswana 2024 FINAL

17
Meetings Botswana 2024
To many international observers, Africa is still
one huge, barren, dark and unstable ‘country’.
Yes, Africans may harbour the perception that
they are a family of closely knit communities,
unconvinced of their continent’s latent potential wealth.
However, Africa is highly endowed with and is diverse
in its offerings and is mostly untapped for business or
leisure. Botswana in particular is perhaps best placed to
illustrate such fortunes and deserves little of the negative
tags unjustly thrown wholesale on the mother continent.
Situated in the heart of southern Africa and tugged
between Zimbabwe to its North-East, Zambia in the
North, Namibia to the West, and South Africa along
its southern borders, Botswana repels misconceptions
surrounding Africa. Its social, political, and economic
stability are unquestionable. The country is gifted with a
large array of heritage sites and monuments, memorable
potential cultural experiences, a myriad of wildlife, natural
resources and constitutes a wow factor for those who care
to visit for leisure or as a part of the events industry.
A Haven for Peace, Tranquillity and
Economic Prosperity
For starters, the country is a haven for peace and
tranquillity having enjoyed multi-party democracy since
its independence from colonial rule in 1966. Even then,
it is evident that democracy, consultative dialogue, and
tolerance have always been a big part of the DNA of the
people of this sparsely populated country, at least judging
from the workings of their traditional consultative forum,
the kgotla. Here, everyone has a say in the affairs of the
community irrespective of social standing or level of
schooling, and the resolutions made have their ways of
trickling down to the highest office of the land. This sense
of community is at the heart of its social stability.
Perhaps in part because of its history of intermittent
rains and regular droughts, Batswana are a resilient people
with an inherent ability to withstand challenges, to be able
to articulate what is no longer relevant, to seek solutions
from everywhere and adapt. As such, the people are
humble, cheerful, and welcoming to outsiders, making
this country the ideal destination for those who appreciate
peace and security inside a continent ironically perceived
for violence, poverty, and failed governments.
About half a decade into self-rule, vast deposits of
diamonds were found following the discovery of the rich
kimberlite belt running across the country and Botswana’s
T H E W O W F A C T O R
Amazing Heritage Sites
& Paradise Rolled into ONE
Above: Traditional dancers
performing during the
opening ceremony of
the Botswana Tourism
Investment Summit 2023 in
Gaborone on 23 November
2023. Image by Monirul
Bhuiyan.