Decentralization in Botswana: the reluctant process

Botswana\'s decentralization process has always been justified in terms of democracy and development. Consequently, the government has always argued that it is fully committed to decentralization in order to promote popular participation as well as facilitating sustainable rural development. Yet the government does not seem to be supporting its own efforts towards decentralization beyond the mundane talk of capacity building. This article takes a closer look at the government\'s over-cautious approach to decentralization. The article analyses some of its better documented efforts towards promoting decentralization and how such efforts seem to lack the necessary internal politico-administrative support. Key words: centralized planning, state domination, district planning, unsustainable, top-down approach Journal of Social Development in Africa Vol.20(1) 2005: 40-58