Botswana Plans New City in Kalahari Desert While Yaounde Unable to Handle Trash on Streets

By Hans Ngala

While Cameroon’s 92-year-old, lifelong ruler, Paul Biya, is seeking another 7-year term and promising Cameroonians that “the best is yet to come”, his Botswanan counterpart, Gideon Duma Boko (55) is planning a smart city in the middle of the desert.
The multi-billion-dollar project is reported to be a “Dubai-style” city called Kalahari City in the Kalahari Deser,t which covers most of the southern African country.
The city will feature a 300MW solar plant for clean energy, a dedicated water pipeline for a sustainable supply, and eco-friendly design elements.
Kalahari City will be a tech hub with fintech centers, modern transportation systems, and advanced infrastructure to attract businesses and promote innovation.
The project aims to reduce Botswana’s reliance on diamond exports by focusing on trade, tourism, technology, and green energy.
The development is expected to generate between 20,000 and 30,000 jobs and will feature hotels and tourist attractions.
Having been sworn into office just eight months ago in November 2024, President Duma Boko attended the launch of Botswana’s first-ever satellite, built by researchers at the Botswana International University of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, Cameroon, under Biya for nearly 50 years (ironically almost the Botswana leaders’ age), Cameroon is yet to see any fruitful gains of Biya’s life-long rule. Streets in Yaounde are in disrepair, and some are only starting to be renovated now after falling apart completely. Waste management remains a huge challenge in Yaounde and other towns as trash piles on the streets.