In the dusty heartland of Lobatse, 70 kilometers south of Gaborone, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one wire at a time. What was once a sleepy town is now alive with the hum of machinery and the precision of skilled hands crafting wiring harnesses destined for Volkswagen and Nissan vehicles. This is the pulse of Delta Automotive Technologies, a homegrown manufacturing beacon that is not only transforming vehicles, but also transforming lives.
The story of Delta is not just a tale of factory floors and automotive components. It is a testament to the African Development Bank’s bold vision for industrialisation—an $80 million credit line to the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) that is changing the face of Botswana’s economy. Long synonymous with diamonds, the country is now writing a new economic chapter—one grounded in technology, manufacturing, and global integration.
Delta’s wiring harnesses are the lifelines of modern vehicles—complex systems of cables and connectors that transmit electrical signals and power. But within each wire assembled lies something far more profound: the transmission of skills, hope, and opportunity. At full throttle, the company aims to produce 451 wiring harness sets per day by 2027, linking Botswana’s workforce to international markets and value chains.
Perhaps most striking is the fact that 75% of Delta’s workforce is female. In an industry historically dominated by men, women are leading this industrial renaissance—shattering stereotypes and reimagining Africa’s industrial future. Engineers like Clara Kaekane are not just designing car parts—they are redesigning the narrative around women in manufacturing and engineering.
This is what inclusive development looks like. More than 95% of Delta’s employees are Botswana nationals. The company has grown to over 327 employees and is on track to reach 1,000 within four years. These are not just numbers—they represent families supported, skills cultivated, and communities uplifted.
What Delta Automotive Technologies represents is bigger than any single company. It is a blueprint—a powerful example of how targeted development finance, visionary leadership, and global collaboration can ignite new industries across Africa. It is the living embodiment of the African Development Bank’s “High 5” priorities—particularly “Industrialize Africa” and “Integrate Africa.”
The African continent has long been rich in potential. But with stories like Delta’s, we’re seeing potential converted into production, and dreams grounded into deliverables. This is industrialisation done right—local, inclusive, and forward-looking.
As Botswana’s wire harnesses power vehicles across the continent and beyond, they also power a compelling truth: Africa is not just participating in global industries—it is helping to build them.
— Editor, Resource Digest
