Platinum vs. Diamonds: A Comparative Analysis of Mineral Governance and Development Outcomes in Zimbabwe and Botswana

The study examines the contrasting governance outcomes of platinum mining in Zimbabwe and diamond mining in Botswana, two neighbouring Southern African nations with substantial mineral wealth but divergent development trajectories. Despite similar geological endowments and colonial mining legacies, the two countries have experienced distinctly different results in translating mineral resources into sustainable national development. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, analysing institutional frameworks, revenue management systems, foreign investment policies, and benefit distribution mechanisms in both countries. The study draws on secondary data from government reports, mining company records, academic literature, and international development indicators to compare governance structures and their developmental impacts from 1980 to 2023. Key variables examined include policy stability, transparency mechanisms, institutional capacity, and linkages between mining revenues and broader economic development. The analysis reveals that Botswana's success stems from stable institutions, transparent joint venture arrangements with Debswana, prudent revenue management through sovereign wealth funds, and deliberate investment in human capital and infrastructure. Conversely, Zimbabwe's challenges include policy inconsistency, weak institutional frameworks, limited transparency, and poor revenue utilisation, exacerbated by economic sanctions and political instability. The findings suggest that institutional quality and governance frameworks are critical determinants of whether mineral wealth contributes to national development or perpetuates the resource curse. This research contributes to the broader discourse on natural resource governance by providing empirical evidence from two contrasting African contexts, offering policy recommendations for improving mineral sector governance in resource-rich developing nations.