‘What has Ghana Got That We Haven't?’ Party Politics and Anti-Colonialism in Botswana, 1960–66: A Response to James Kirby

Abstract

This short piece is a response to James Kirby’s article entitled ‘“What has Ghana Got That We Haven't?” Party Politics and Anti-Colonialism in Botswana, 1960–66’. Contrary to Kirby, who is oblivious of the political economy of colonialism, and how this reality informed the decolonisation processes, we argue that the transfer of power in the Bechuanaland Protectorate was designed to preserve British economic interests under the pro-British Bechuanaland Democratic Party. The British were very uncomfortable with the radical Bechuanaland Peoples Party, whore rhetoric threatened core British interests, hence their preference and support for the Democratic Party.