Migration In Botswana

INTRODUCTION

Botswana is a landlocked country with a population of nearly 1.6 million people and like most of Africa it has in recent years been experiencing rapid population growth. According to Botswana Statistics it shows that urban growth has been on average of 7-8% in recent years. The country managed to get its independence on the 30th September 1966 up until now it is still an independent country. Before the post-colonial period the country experienced extreme poverty as it was seen as one of the poorest countries in the world but since independence Botswana has been experiencing rapid population growth. This has been mainly through rural-urban migration and natural increase of births over death rates. Botswana is famed for its diamond

Botswana possessed relatively inclusive pre-colonial institutions placing restrictions on political leaders and it is rich in diamonds this resource wealth created enough rents that no group wanted to challenge the status quo at the expense of rocking the boat. The main source of income were cattle, a modest part of which came from beef exports and the state further commercialized its cattle herds and expanded its meat packing industry through a well-run

According to (Acquah, 2013) between independence in 1966-2001 the proportion of the population living in urban areas increased from 5% to 54%, this positive economic growth and negative outcomes of growth inequality has affected the food security of the urban poor.

The discovery and exploitation of the country's rich mineral resources since independence in 1966 have made a significant contribution to the development of new towns, such as Orapa, Jwaneng and Selebi Phikwe and this led to migration of people from rural to urban places in search for better paying jobs and better health facilities, education and even to better their lives. Incomes from the mining sector were also invested in other sectors of the economy and through economic management Botswana has transformed from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle income country with a population of 1.7 million rapid urbanization is a post-independence phenomenon. While the increase in urban population is attributed to rural-urban migration and natural increase the increase in urban population is also attributed to in-situ urbanization of major villages’ also known as urban villages. Be that as it may be the overcrowding of people in cities and towns some working and some not working lead to development of