The Socio-Economic Impacts of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) on Rural Development in Botswana: A Case Study of Mongala Mall in Kanye Village
Author: Kefilwe Mosimanyana, kefilwemosimanyana@gmail.com
Department: Sociology
University: University of Botswana, Botswana
Supervisor: Professor France Maphosa
Year of completion: In progress
Language of dissertation: English
Keywords:
Public-Private Partnership
, Rural Development
, Socio-economic Impact
Areas of Research:
Sociology of Development
, Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy
Abstract
This study will explore the socio-economic impacts of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in rural development in Botswana, using the case study of Mongala Mall in Kanye village. By definition, PPPs are long-term contracts of collaboration between the private sector and a government entity (public sector), where the private sector assumes substantial financial, technical, and operational risks for the design, finance, construction, and operation of public infrastructure. This framework plays an important role especially in assisting countries which are facing financial struggles and/or fiscal difficulties to implement large infrastructural developments with the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of the provision of public goods and services. Therefore, this study aims to assess how Mongala Mall, a Public-Private Partnership project, has impacted the socio-economic livelihoods of Kanye village residents, with emphasis made on economic empowerment, local business performance (SMEs), and overall socio-economic benefits that have resulted from the collaborative project/development. This qualitative study uses sustainable development theory as its analytical tool to demonstrate the benefits of sustainability-oriented PPPs in development. Data collection methods will include semi-structured interviews targeting a heterogeneous group of residents aged 18 years and above who have lived in Kanye since 2013. It will also include key informants such as local leaders, public officials, and private partners. A combination of convenience and purposive sampling shall be employed. Convenience sampling will be used for selecting individuals (residents and SMEs) within the selected wards equidistant to Mongala Mall because it will be easy to reach them. Purposive sampling will be used to select key informants such as the village leadership (Kgosi, VDC, etc.), police station commander, PrimeTime Property Holdings Limited (private sector representative), and Southern District Council (public sector) because these are the individuals who were directly involved in the decision-making of the developmental project. The inclusion criteria prioritize residents who are familiar with the mall’s decade-long operations to allow for an analysis of its long-term impact in the village. Thematic analysis will be used to gain in-depth insights that will address a gap in literature on the contributions of PPPs in rural Botswana, therefore ultimately informing rural development policy and enhancing sustainable rural development.
