Botswana is in a deep trough of its rulers' making, from which no easy or quick escape is foreseeable. The country is caught between an autocratic and increasingly powerful presidency and visionless, stultified ruling party, on the one hand, and a disorganised people and divided opposition, on the other. Underlying all is diamond dependency, set to deepen even further with the establishment of sorting and aggregation functions in the DTC Botswana and the corresponding responsibility for ‘maintaining the integrity’ of the inherently fraudulent commodity. This was the special role of the secretive, monopolistic De Beers private corporation. But it is an impossible task for a democracy. Skills and some jobs may be acquired in jewellery manufacture, but accountability and openness are set to worsen.

As a directorate of intelligence services, and enhanced electronic surveillance systems become realities, the over-empowerment of the rulers increases, with no likely reduction in their existing arrogance. Instead, the gulf between the ruling elite and the people will widen further. There are no indications either that the rulers will turn away from the established growth-first strategy of economic development which maintains poverty and inequalities at critical levels.