The document discusses decision making processes in governments. It describes centralized/top-down processes where the central government makes all decisions, and decentralized/bottom-up processes where decisions are made locally and sent to higher levels. Botswana uses both systems, with the national government coordinating development plans but also consulting communities through the kgotla system and local committees.

1.  Let us now go a step further and look at how decisions are made
in the country.
 In most cases a lot of decisions are made by the government for
its citizens in their effort to achieve economic growth.
 A government might decide, for example, that it wished to
increase equality between people in a country.
 It might decide that without equality economic growth would
only benefit a few rich people.
 Or it might wish to increase democracy in the country; it might
feel that economic growth without full participation of all
citizens is meaningless.
Decision Making or Planning
Processes in Government

2.  To make such decisions does not mean that they will always be
achieved, sometimes they fail.
 Most governments, like that of Botswana usually co-ordinate their
decisions through what is known as the National Development
Plans (NDPs).
 The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is in charge of
designing and drawing up the NDPs in Botswana.
 Often time limit is set for the NDP to achieve certain goals. This
time limit could be three, five or ten years. Botswana NDP takes five
years.
 A mid-term review is always conducted to assess progress and to
make adjustments where necessary during the remaining years of
the plan to reflect more recent circumstances.
Decision Making or Planning
Processes in Government cont.

3.  Remember that the goals that are to be achieved must be
realistic; otherwise the plan will not be achieved.
 The people who are involved in planning are economists and
planners.
 These people must also have a good knowledge of the country,
resources available, the possibility of developing new resources
and problems faced by the country.
 Let us now discuss the decision-making process that different
governments use to plan for the development of their countries.
 There are two main types of planning processes, mainly the
Centralised or top-down decision-making process and the
Decentralised or bottom-up decision making process.
Decision Making or Planning
Processes in Government cont.

4.  Centralised or top-down decision making is when all decisions are
made by the central government on behalf of the entire country.
 Central government means planning at national level. This means
that the decisions are made by members of the cabinet.
 In Botswana the cabinet comprises of the President, the Vice
President and Ministers.
 Decision makers in Botswana also include the Members of
Parliament most of who are elected to such positions by electorates
during national elections which come after every five years.
 The structure of the central government includes various ministries
and government departments.
Centralised or top-down decision-
making process

5.  In most countries a lot of decision making processes are
centralised.
 This is usually influenced by economic and political power. The
government which has been voted into power democratically
has a duty to act in a way that will benefit the country.
 This government must decide what the priorities of the country
are, which are the most important decisions to make, and most
important of it all, it must choose the direction in which
development will go.
 In other words a government has to guide the country in the
direction that will suit its economic policies.
Centralised or top-down decision-
making process cont.

6.  Learner, take note of the fact that the statement given above is an example of
political power where the decisions are made from the top by government officials.
 Usually there is no consultation with local authorities such as the Council Secretary,
Chiefs, Headmen and others, as well as the community at large.
 Since the ruling party has been voted into power it believes it has a duty to act in a
way that will benefit the country.
 Lack of consultation with the people means the government might ignore local
conditions when planning.
 For example, the government might think of increasing productive ventures which
will generate more income for the improvement of people's lives.
 Things such as construction of large dams or mining industries can be done as efforts
to create economic growth which could be beneficial to the society.
 But on the other hand, farmland, grazing land, rogation - which is a source of
firewood and harbours wild animals may be destroyed and this will be a disadvantage
to some people.
Centralised or top-down decision-
making process cont.

7.  Remember that most of the time when these types of development are constructed
people affected are compensated.
 This means that they are paid with money for the inconvenience caused to them.
However, they might lose their valuable property forever and the compensation given
can never substitute it.
 For instance, subsistence farmers who depend on farming to provide food for their
families may no longer farm. They may also be illiterate and unable to show their
concern to the government.
 This means that if they fail to use the compensation productively, e.g. starting a
business to invest, their families will starve and their basic need for food will no longer
be satisfied.
 This indicates to us that planning for a whole nation involves many difficult choices
and requires making many predictions. It is often difficult to know how accurate the
prediction will prove and whether the choices are the correct ones. When such plans
consider people's wishes they, the people will work hard to fulfil it. But, if the planners
ignore the needs and wants of people it is unlikely that it's goals will be achieved
Centralised or top-down decision-
making process cont.

8. Top down decision making
Advantage
 Decisions can be made in the best
interest of the whole country.
 Governments have access to large
sums of money and to multi-national
companies, hence can finance the
decisions.
 Developments are directed along the
lines of nationally agreed policies.
 This process is, however, not without
disadvantages. Let us look at some of
them.
Disadvantages
 The majority of citizens may not play
a part.
 It may be controlled in the interests
of politicians and large companies.
 It may be contrary to local interests
as the people in most cases are
not involved in
decision making processes that
directly affect them.

9.  Decentralisation means planning which involves sharing and
transfer of decision making power from the top to the
middle and lowest levels.
 The middle and lowest levels refer to the local authorities
and communities respectively.
 It is here that the Chiefs, Headmen and other people in
communities have greater responsibilities and power to
make decisions for communities.
 Usually plans made at the local level become successful as
they involve people who understand what they need and
want.
Decentralisation or bottom-up
decision making process

10.  As a democratic country Botswana uses this bottom-up decision
making process through parliamentary representation.
 One of the duties of the members of parliament is to go to their
constituencies and consult with different committees.
 The customary court (Kgotla) is a public place which is used for
discussing both national and local issues.
 The community's grievances and problems are further taken up
for parliamentary debates.
 This doesn't mean that people's concern will always be taken up.
 There is likelihood that after consideration they can be rejected
by parliament.
Case study of a country using a
bottom-up strategy: Botswana

11.  Traditionally the Kgotla in Botswana was used to discuss matters
concerning the community before the introduction of modern
governance.
 Decision-making was democratic in the sense that elderly men
would gather at the kgotla to make plans and solve problems.
 Today the Kgotla is still important for these discussions and
different committees such as the Village Development
Committee are elected at the Kgotla to carry out some tribal
duties.
 The different communities make decisions and take them to the
central government for consideration
Case study of a country using a
bottom-up strategy: Botswana

12. Bottom up decision making strategy
 Advantages
 Most people participate in the
decision making process.
 It encourages self-reliance
and commitment as
everybody is involved.
 The development of the
country is usually supported
by the communities.
 It targets all people including
the poor and the
disadvantaged
 Disadvantages
 The local people's plans are
not always welcomed by
government officials.
 The representation of
people's views at the
parliament may be
ineffective.

13. Central Government
Local Government
District Council District Administration
Local Village
The structure of the bottom - up
strategy

14.  The above diagram shows that decisions are made at
the local level by village committees.
 They are then taken up through local government to
central government for consideration where they can
either be accepted or rejected.