Title: Performance of state-owned enterprises in Botswana
Authors: Thekiso Molokwane; Onwell Mberikunashe; Tinoda Ndiga
Addresses: University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana ' University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana ' University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Abstract: The inability to establish a vibrant private sector after independence resulted in the Government of Botswana creating specialised agencies that were to not only focus on specific areas, but would also help in avoiding a bureaucratic system of administration and facilitate a close relationship between the government and the private sector. A trend visible in the history of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Botswana however, is that a considerable number of these institutions have been retained in spite of their weak performance and high reliance on government. Such SOEs continue to operate under government subvention requiring substantial funding despite operating at a perennial loss. Literature demonstrates that productivity, efficiency and profitability of SOEs in Botswana are constantly interrogated by researchers with a view to providing critical analysis and recommendations to relevant authorities. The debate surrounding the performance of SOEs in Botswana remains contentious to date. Research on service provider-client nexus is scant hence this necessitates an assessment of SOE performance from this perspective. The methodological approach adopted by this study involves a literature survey under a qualitative, inductive and descriptive research design and case study strategy.
Keywords: state-owned enterprises; SOEs; government; private sector; client nexus; corporate social responsibility; CSR; Botswana.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2024.140545
International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2024 Vol.14 No.2, pp.168 - 186
Received: 24 May 2020
Accepted: 23 Nov 2020
Published online: 23 Aug 2024 *