It is now accepted that past and current development strategies among Basarwa communities in Botswana have been unable to satisfactorily achieve the objectives of improving incomes, employment and general quality of life. While these objectives remain of critical importance, there is an urgent need to determine more effective ways that can make them realisable. Basing its argument on the original objectives of the Remote Area Development Programme (RADP), this paper suggests the need for modification and application of new alternative strategies to suit the prevailing circumstances of the Basarwa. From its inception, RADP has been criticised, mainly on the grounds that it has been undertaken by the government with only limited community involvement This has contributed to a dependency on government support rather than to a momentum of self-standing, sustainable improvements (Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, 1997). Community Economic Development (CED) proposed in this paper draws lessons from general failures of RADP and bUilds on its itrengths. Its main argument is that it is necessary to continually review approaches to development of Basarwa communities with a view to overcoming past short-comings and establishing more effective strategies for the future.
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