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Botswana
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The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana) is a
landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Formerly the British
protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name
after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on
September 30, 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the
south, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and
Zimbabwe to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to
South Africa's, is predominated by mining, especially
diamonds, cattle raising, and tourism. The country is named
after its largest ethnic group, the Tswana.
Main article: History of Botswana
The earliest inhabitants of the area are believed to be the
Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were joined by Bantu-speaking
tribes during Bantu migrations. The Batswana, a term also
used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the
country's major ethnic group (the "Tswana" in South Africa),
which came into the area from South Africa during the Zulu
wars of the early 19th century. Prior to European contact,
the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.
In the 19th century, hostilities broke out between the
Batswana and Boer settlers from the Transvaal. After appeals
by the Batswana for assistance, the British Government on 31
March 1885 made "Bechuanaland" a protectorate. The northern
territory remained under direct administration and is
today's Botswana, while the southern territory became part
of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest province
of South Africa; the majority of Setswana-speaking people
today live in South Africa.
Despite South African pressure, inhabitants of the
Bechuanaland Protectorate, Basutoland (now Lesotho) and
Swaziland in 1909 asked for and received British assurances
that they would not be included in the proposed Union of
South Africa. An expansion of British central authority and
the evolution of tribal government resulted in the 1920
establishment of two advisory councils representing Africans
and Europeans. Proclamations in 1934 regularised tribal rule
and powers. A European-African advisory council was formed
in 1951, and the 1961 constitution established a
consultative legislative council.
In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic
self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was
moved from Mafikeng, in South Africa, to newly established
Gaborone in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first
general elections and to independence on 30 September 1966.
Sir Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and
the legitimate claimant to traditional rule of the
Bamangwato, was elected as the first president, re-elected
twice, and died in office in 1980. The presidency passed to
the sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire, who was elected
in his own right in 1984 and re-elected in 1989 and 1994.
Masire retired from office in 1998. The presidency passed to
the sitting vice president, Festus Mogae, who was elected in
his own right in 1999. Mogae won a second term in elections
held October 30, 2004.
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Background:
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Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland,
Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in
1966. The economy, one of the most robust on the
continent, is dominated by diamond mining. |
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Location:
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Southern Africa, north of South Africa |
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Geographic coordinates:
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22 00
S, 24 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 600,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas |
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Climate:
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semiarid; warm winters and hot summers |
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Terrain:
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predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland;
Kalahari Desert in southwest |
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Nationality:
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noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana
(plural) |
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Ethnic groups:
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Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%,
other, including Kgalagadi and white 7% |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15% |
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Languages:
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English (official), Setswana |
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Currency:
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pula
(BWP) |
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Currency code:
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BWP
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Exchange rates:
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pulas
per US dollar - 6.8353 (January 2002), 5.8412
(2001), 5.1018 (2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998),
3.6508 (1997) |
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