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Geography |
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Capital |
Gaborone (pronounced ha-bo-ro-neh), pop. 186,007 |
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Area |
582,000 sq. km. (224,710 sq. mi.), about the size of Texas. |
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Terrain |
Desert and savanna. |
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Climate |
Mostly subtropical. |
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People |
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Nationality |
Noun and adjective--Motswana (sing.), Batswana (pl.). |
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Population |
(2003): 1.76 million. |
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Groups |
Tswana 79%; Kalanga 11%; Kgalagadi, Herero, Bayeyi,
Hambukush, Basarwa ("San"), Khoi, whites 10%. |
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Religions |
Christianity 70%, none 20%, indigenous beliefs 6%, other 4%. |
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Languages |
English (official), Setswana, Ikalanga. |
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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 1800s. Prior to European contact, the Batswana
lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule. |
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Government &
History |
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Official Name |
Republic of Botswana |
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Government |
Republic, parliamentary democracy. |
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Independence |
September 30, 1966. |
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 in 1885 put "Bechuanaland" under
its protection. 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 regularized 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 in September 1966. 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 and
stepped down in accordance with national term limits on March 31,
2008. On April 1, 2008 former Vice President Ian Khama assumed the
presidency. The next general election is expected in October 2009. |
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