THE GEOGRAPHY (Foreign Office UK)
Area: 581,730 sq. kilometres
Population: 1.7 million (2001)
Capital City: Gaborone, population
186,007 (2001)
People: Batswana 95%, Kalanga,
Basarwa and Kgalagadi 4%, white 1%
Languages: English and Setswana
Religion(s): Christianity and indigenous
beliefs
Currency: Pula. 1 Pula = 100 thebe
Major political parties: Botswana
Democratic Party, Botswana National
Front, Botswana Congress Party
Government: Multi-party Democracy
GEOGRAPHY
Botswana is a landlocked country
situated in southern Africa. It shares
borders with Namibia in the west and
north, Zambia in the north, Zimbabwe
in the north-east and South Africa in
the east and south. More than half of
the country lies within the tropical
zone north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
The climate ranges from semi-arid
through sub-tropical to temperate. The
Kalahari Desert dominates southern
and western Botswana; the extreme
south-west experiences near desert
conditions, while eastern Botswana
enjoys temperate conditions with
adequate rainfall to support arable
farming. The Okavango Delta in
northern Botswana is a wetland area
of outstanding natural beauty. The
Delta is rich in animal and plant life and,
together with Chobe, the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve and the Tuli
Block, is the focus for Botswana's
growing tourist industry
THE HISTORY (Foreign Office UK)
Recent History
After independence in 1996, Botswana
adopted a policy of non-interference
towards the neighbouring white
minority governments and refused to
allow guerrilla operations against South
Africa. It did, however, adopt an
open-door policy for political refugees.
In the years before a multiracial
government was established in South
Africa, Botswana was the target of
South African reprisals.
In the 1970s, Botswana was one of the
original five Front Line States that
opposed minority rule in southern
Africa, and whose alliance formed the
core of what was to become the
Southern African Development
Community (SADC). Since the end of
apartheid in South Africa, Botswana
enjoys strong relations with all 14
members of SADC.
The first Government of Botswana
was formed by the Botswana
Democratic Party at the 1965
multi-party elections. The BDP has
been returned to power at each of the
7 elections contested since
Independence. Sir Seretse Khama
served as the first President of the
Republic from 1966 until his death in
1980, when he was succeeded by Sir
Ketumile Masire (co-founder of the
Botswana Congress Party and former
Vice President). Masire stepped down
in 1998 and was succeeded by current
President Festus Mogae. The son of
Sir Seretse Khama, Ian Khama, is
currently serving as the
Vice-President.
Longer Historical Perspective
The British connection with Botswana
began in the 1840s with the
establishment by the Scottish
missionary/explorer, Dr Livingstone,
of a mission station in the territory of
the Bakwena, one of the eight main
Tswana tribes. In the succeeding three
decades, the land of the Batswana was
threatened by the northward expansion
of the Boer farmers from the
Transvaal, and from raiding parties by
the Matabele. In 1895, British South
Africa Company proposed that it should
take over the running of the
Bechuanaland Protectorate. The
Bechuana chiefs, Khama III, Bathoen and
Sebele, went to England to protest
against the proposed transfer. The
Chiefs successfully persuaded the then
Secretary of State at the Colonial
Office, Joseph Chamberlain, that the
best interests of the peoples of the
Protectorate would be served by
remaining under the protection of the
Crown.
In the 1880s, there were two
Bechuanalands – the Crown Colony of
British Bechuanaland and the
Bechuanaland Protectorate. In 1895 the
Crown Colony of British Bechuanaland,
including Mafeking, was incorporated in
the then self-governing colony of the
Cape of Good Hope which in turn, from
1910, became part of the Union of
South Africa. It was assumed that, in
time, the Bechuanaland Protectorate
would eventually be incorporated into
South Africa. When the South Africa
Bill was before the United Kingdom
Parliament, pledges were given that
the British Parliament should have the
fullest opportunity of discussing the
transfer issue if and when it came up
and, more importantly, that no such
transfer would take place against the
wishes of the inhabitants.
The question of the transfer was
raised frequently by the Union
Government. When the National Party
came to power in South Africa in 1948,
incorporation of the protectorate into
an apartheid system was unacceptable
to both British and world opinion.
In 1960, a Legislative Council was
formed. The British Government
indicated that it was willing to give
Bechuanaland some measure of
self-government. This led to the
Lobatse Agreement in July 1963 and
the formation of the National Assembly.
Elections were held in March 1965. The
Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP)
won the election and the Prime
Minister, Seretse Khama, demanded
full independence, which was granted
on 30 September 1966.
THE ECONOMY (Foreign Office UK)
Basic economic facts
GDP: US$5.7 billion
GDP per head: US$3,360
Annual Growth: 2.3% (2001/02), oise to
5% in 2002/03, and is expected to
continue at this level in 2003/04
Inflation:Average inflation rate for
2002/03 reached 9% (up from 6% in
2001/02) following introduction of
VAT in July 2002. Inflation still near
10%, but effects of VAT are fast dying
down, and inflation should fall to 6-7%.
Major Industries: Diamonds, Copper,
Nickel, Beef and Tourism
Major trading partners: EU and fellow
members of the Southern Africa
Customs Union comprising South
Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland
Aid & development: Bilateral assistance
2001/02 £2 million. Botswana also
benefits from regional DFID projects,
eg HIV/AIDS and Trade and Poverty
Programmes
Exchange rate: £1 = P8.5
The economy of Botswana is
underpinned by the diamond industry
which still accounts for 33% of GDP
and approximately 50% of all foreign
exchange earnings. Botswana is the
largest producer of diamonds (by
value) in the world. This industry and
the sound government management of
the revenues have contributed to a
post-Independence era characterised
by consistently high economic growth
rate. Real GDP growth has averaged
7% over the past three decades making
Botswana one of the fastest growing
economies in the world, albeit starting
from a low base. Through fiscal
discipline and sound management,
Botswana has transformed itself from
one of the poorest countries in the
world to a middle-income country with
a per capita GDP of US $3,360 IN 2002.
The diamond industry accounts for at
least half of government revenue. The
Government recognise the need to
move away from the dependence the
economy has on diamonds and are
pushing hard for accelerated economic
diversification. They are actively trying
to attract foreign direct investment in
services (particularly financial) and
manufacturing as well as encouraging
citizen led private sector development.
There has been little evidence of
serious corruption in Botswana. The
international corruption watchdog,
Transparency International, believes
Botswana to be the least corrupt
country in Africa and ranks it as the
26th least corrupt country in the
world. The Government is determined
to maintain its record.
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