Abstract

Botswana, a prosperous stable democracy in southern Africa is at a cross road. The Green Movement demands that it promote sustainable development while curtailing an increasingly high HIV infection rate that leaves many of its children parentless, Batswanas with a sense of hopelessness, strained human and financial resources from high death rates, and expensive universal retroviral drug programs. Botswana’s children are burdened with emotional scars from AIDS and some have no hope of enjoying the prosperity of their homeland so they drop out of school. Such a waste of future human capital is counterproductive when Botswana depends on foreign human, managerial, agricultural and other technical expertise. Dependence on highly paid foreigners has led to resentment among Batswana’s poor (over 50% of the population) and contradicts Botswana's quest for sustainable development. Resentment may become a destabilizing force and needs to be addressed in a manner that is best for the country and its people. Botswana needs to redesign and deliver social institutions,policies, and programs that will safeguard its children and its future.