As the world nervously awaits the outcome of the US Presidential election, and with it arguably the fate of the post-World War Two international order, it is all too easy to fall in line with a general sense of doom and gloom. There is, however, no matter how uncertain and dangerous these times feel, still much reason for optimism and in the context of southern Africa, much to celebrate.
In this so-called year of the election, South Africa and Botswana have set a global benchmark for democratic maturity. In both countries there has been an acceptance of the will of the electorate in a manner that stands in stark contrast to the authoritarian impulse so often on display from the likes of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Victor Orbán.
In both South Africa and Botswana citizens have used the power of their vote to hold their governments accountable for chronic unemployment, faltering service delivery and an overall sense of decline and decay.
It would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago that the ANC would see its support drop to 40 percent, let alone that the BDP after 58 years in power would be so convincingly ousted by Duma Boko’s UDC. The message is clear, as democracies in the region mature, the liberation dividend is no longer the defining characteristic of voter behaviour. This should give us all a real sense of optimism for the future. If the nascent GNU in South Africa and the UDC can effect substantive economic reforms and improve the capacity of the state to deliver, then southern Africa will be even better placed to survive and thrive in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
As the world contends with ‘hot’ wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and faces the real potential in the near future for great power conflict over Taiwan, businesses are increasingly looking to de-risk their supply chains, and to invest in countries at a remove from potential conflict hot spots and where democracy is vibrant.
South Africa and the broader region could not be better placed to take advantage of this trend. The challenge now is for the public and private sectors to work even harder together to create a conducive environment for investment, by for example, improving public infrastructure and removing unnecessary barriers to trade and investment.
Business in the region needs to also make their voice heard and help ensure that their respective governments deliver on the change mandate that voters have given. If voters can display such maturity and bravery, then there is no reason why such a critical constituency to the future of both countries should not be equally unequivocal about demand for governments to meet the needs of the moment. If they do, then there is no grounds that we cannot put countries like South Africa and Botswana on a much higher growth trajectory.
There is then much to be grateful for, even if at times it seems the world has lost its collective mind. We have the agency to shape the future, time will tell whether we have the courage to do so.
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