Equity and Distribution of Water Resources in Kgatleng District, Botswana

Summary, in English

The focus in this article is on investigating the distribution of water resources in Botswana’s Kgatleng District and specifically to analyse the principles guiding existing African customary property rights institutions from an equity perspective. In Botswana accessing water resources and controlling the use of water sources is imperative for agricultural production. Development of water sources has, consequently, been the central focus of agricultural policy during both the colonial and the independence era. Efforts have been put into increasing the quantity and improving the quality of water source by financing boreholes, dams, and pipelines. Meanwhile, customary property rights institutions have prevailed in contemporary legislation and within that institutional framework a polarisation process has taken place. This polarisation, with amassment in one end and exclusion in the other, rimes well with the high levels of inequality that characterises Botswana and that appears to have historical explanations. Neither the tribal authorities, nor the colonial administration, nor the independent government have had any clear policy for redistribution of water resources. Institutions governing water have stayed the same, principles for accessing water have stayed the same, and distribution of water resources has become more unequal.

• Author: Ellen Hillbom
• Department/s: Department of Economic History
• Publishing year: 2007
• Language: English
• Document type: Conference paper
• Topic: Economic History
• Keywords: Botswana; equity; water
• Conference name: Lund University Development Research Day, 2007
• Conference date: 2007-09-17 - 2007-09-17
• Conference place: Lund, Sweden
• Status: Unpublished