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Botswana

Continent:

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Botswana

Conventional short form: Botswana

Local long form: Republic of Botswana

Local short form: Botswana

Former: Bechuanaland

Administrative Divisions

9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Independence

30 September 1966 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day (Botswana 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president

Election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 ex-officio members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1

Judicial Branch

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

Political Parties and Leaders

Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Gilson SALESHANDO]; Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Bernard BALIKANI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; New Democratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD] note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites) other: diamond mining companies

Flag Description

Light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony

National Anthem

Lyrics:

Note: adopted 1966

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary republic

Capital

  • Name
    Gaborone
  • Geographic Coordinates
    24 45 S, 25 55 E
  • Time Difference
    UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
  • 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 Stephen J. NOLAN
  • Embassy
    Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
  • Mailing Address
    Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
  • Telephone
    [267] 395-3982
  • FAX
    [267] 395-6947

International Organization Participation

  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • AU
  • C
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC
  • MIGA
  • NAM
  • OPCW
  • SACU
  • SADC
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
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