3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Botswana

Conventional short form: Botswana

Former: Bechuanaland

Administrative Divisions

10 districts and four town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*, South-East, Southern

Independence

30 September 1966 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 30 September (1966)

Constitution

March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal System

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president

Election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 54.3%

Legislative Branch

Elections: National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004)

Election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 57.2%, BNF 26%, other 16.8%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1

Judicial Branch

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)

Political Parties and Leaders

Array

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

NA

Flag Description

Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary republic

Capital

    Gaborone

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Kgosi SEEPAPITSO IV
  • Chancery
    1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 244-4990
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador John E. LANGE
  • Embassy
    address NA, Gaborone
  • Mailing Address
    P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
  • Telephone
    [267] 353982
  • FAX
    [267] 356947

International Organization Participation

  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • C
  • CCC
  • ECA
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICFTU
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • Intelsat
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • ISO
  • ITU
  • NAM
  • OAU
  • OPCW
  • SACU
  • SADC
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UPU
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WToO
  • WTrO