Botswana

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Republic of Botswana
Lefatshe la Botswana (Tswana)
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: "Pula" (Tswana)
"Rain"
Anthem: Fatshe leno la rona (Tswana)
This Land of Ours
MENU0:00
Location of Botswana (dark blue) in Africa (light blue & dark grey) in the Afri
can Union (light blue) [Legend]
Location of Botswana (dark blue)
in Africa (light blue & dark grey)
in the African Union (light blue) [Legend]
Capital
and largest city
Gaborone
2439.5S 2554.5E
Official languages
English
Setswana
Ethnic groups
79% Tswana
11% Kalanga
3% Basarwa
3% Kgalagadi
3% White
1% others
Demonym
Batswana
Motswana
Government
Parliamentary republic
President
Ian Khama
Vice-President Ponatshego Kedikilwe
Legislature
National Assembly
Independence from the United Kingdom
Established (Constitution)
30 September 1966
Area
Total 581,730 km2 (48th)
224,610 sq mi
Water (%)
2.6
Population
2014 estimate 2,155,784[1] (145th)
2011 census
2,038,228 [2]
Density 3.4/km2 (231st)
8.9/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2014 estimate
Total $35.989 billion[3]
Per capita
$17,106[3]
GDP (nominal) 2014 estimate
Total $15.112 billion[3]
Per capita
$7,704[3]
Gini (1993)
63[1]
very high
HDI (2013)
Decrease 0.683[4]
medium 109th
Currency
Pula (BWP)
Time zone
Central Africa Time (UTC+2)

Summer (DST)
not observed (UTC)
Drives on the left
Calling code
+267
ISO 3166 code BW
Internet TLD
.bw
Botswana /btswn/, officially the Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana),
is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens refer to thems
elves as Batswana (singular: Motswana).[5]Formerly the British protectorate of B
echuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the
Commonwealth on 30 September 1966.[6]Since then, it has maintained a strong tra
dition as a stable representative democracy, with a consistent record of uninter
rupted democratic elections.
Geographically, Botswana is flat, with up to 70 percent of its territory being t
he Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, N
amibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its border with Zam
bia to the north near Kazungula is poorly defined but at most is a few hundred m
etres long.[7]
A mid-sized country of just over two million people, Botswana is one of the most
sparsely populated nations in the world. Around 10 percent of the population li
ves in the capital and largest city, Gaborone. Once one of the poorest countries
in the world with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the late 1960s Bo
tswana has since transformed itself into one of the fastest-growing economies in
the world, now boasting a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $16
,400 per year as of 2013.[1] Its high gross national income (by some estimates t
he fourth-largest in Africa) gives the country a modest standard of living and t
he highest Human Development Index of continental Sub-Saharan Africa.[8]
Botswana is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Comm
unity, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations. Despite its politica
l stability and relative socioeconomic prosperity, the country is among the hard
est hit by HIV/AIDS epidemic, with around a quarter of the population estimated
to be infected.[9]
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Geography
2.1 Ecology
2.2 Environmental problems
3 Politics and government
3.1 Foreign relations and military
4 Administrative divisions
5 Economy
5.1 Gemstones and precious metals
6 Demographics
6.1 Language
6.2 Religion
7 Culture
7.1 Music
7.2 Visual arts
7.3 Food
7.4 Sports
8 Education
9 Health
9.1 HIV/AIDS epidemic
10 Tourism
11 See also
12 Notes and references
13 Further reading

14 External links
History[edit]
Main article: History of Botswana
In the 19th century, hostilities broke out between Tswana inhabitants of Botswan
a and Ndebele tribes who were making incursions into the territory from the nort
h-east. Tensions also escalated with the Dutch Boer settlers from the Transvaal
to the east. After appeals by the Batswana leaders Khama III, Bathoen and Sebele
for assistance, the British Government put Bechuanaland under its protection on
31 March 1885.[10] The northern territory remained under direct administration
as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and is modern-day Botswana, while the southern
territory became part of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest provin
ce of South Africa. The majority of Setswana-speaking people today live in South
Africa.
When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 out of the main British coloni
es in the region, the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Sw
aziland (the High Commission Territories) were not included, but provision was m
ade for their later incorporation. However, their inhabitants began to be consul
ted by the UK, and although successive South African governments sought to have
the territories transferred, the UK kept delaying; consequently, it never occurr
ed. The election of the Nationalist government in 1948, which instituted aparthe
id, and South Africa's withdrawal from the Commonwealth in 1961, ended any prosp
ect of incorporation of the territories into South Africa. An expansion of Briti
sh central authority and the evolution of tribal government resulted in the 1920
establishment of two advisory councils to represent both Africans and Europeans
. Proclamations in 1934 regulated tribal rule and powers. A European-African adv
isory council was formed in 1951, and the 1961 constitution established a consul
tative legislative council.
In June 1964, the UK accepted proposals for a democratic self-government in Bots
wana. The seat of government was moved in 1965 from Mafikeng in South Africa, to
the newly established Gaborone, which sits near its border. The 1965 constituti
on led to the first general elections and to independence on 30 September 1966.
Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant
to the Ngwato chiefship, was elected as the first President, going on to be reelected twice.
The presidency passed to the sitting Vice-President, Quett Masire, who was elect
ed in his own right in 1984 and re-elected in 1989 and 1994. Masire retired from
office in 1998, and was succeeded by Festus Mogae, who was elected in his own r
ight in 1999 and re-elected in 2004. The presidency passed in 2008 to Ian Khama
(son of the first President), who had been serving as Mogae's Vice-President sin
ce resigning his position in 1998 as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force to
take up this civilian role.
A long-running dispute over the northern border with Namibia's Caprivi Strip was
the subject of a ruling by the International Court of Justice in December 1999,
which ruled that Kasikili Island belongs to Botswana.[11]
Geography[edit]
Main articles: Geography of Botswana and Climate of Botswana
A lechwe in the Okavango Delta
At 581,730 km2 (224,607 sq mi) Botswana is the world's 48th-largest country. It
is comparable in size to Madagascar or France. It lies between latitudes 17 and 2
7S, and longitudes 20 and 30E.
The country is predominantly flat, tending toward gently rolling tableland. Bots
wana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of its land sur
face. The Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is in the no

rthwest. The Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan, lies in the north.
The Limpopo River Basin, the major landform of all of southern Africa, lies part
ly in Botswana, with the basins of its tributaries, the Notwane, Bonwapitse, Mah
alapswe, Lotsane, Motloutse and the Shashe, located in the eastern part of the c
ountry. The Notwane provides water to the capital through the Gaborone Dam. The
Chobe River lies to the north, providing a boundary between Botswana and Namibia
's Zambezi Region. The Chobe River meets with the Zambezi River at a place calle
d Kazungula (meaning a small sausage tree, a point where Sebitwane and his Makol
olo tribe crossed the Zambezi into Zambia).
Ecology[edit]
Botswana has diverse areas of wildlife habitat. In addition to the delta and des
ert areas, there are grasslands and savannas, where Blue Wildebeest, antelopes,
and other mammals and birds are found. Northern Botswana has one of the few rema
ining large populations of the endangered African Wild Dog. Chobe National Park,
found in the Chobe District, has the world's largest concentration of African e
lephants. The park covers about 11,000 km2 (4,247 sq mi) and supports about 350
species of birds.
The Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve (in the Okavango Delta) are majo
r tourist destinations. Other reserves include the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
located in the Kalahari desert in Ghanzi District; Makgadikgadi Pans National P
ark and Nxai Pan National Park are in Central District in the Makgadikgadi Pan.
Mashatu Game Reserve is privately owned: located where the Shashe River and Limp
opo River meet in eastern Botswana. The other privately owned reserve is Mokolod
i Nature Reserve near Gaborone. There are also specialised sanctuaries like the
Khama Rhino Sanctuary (for Rhinoceros) and Makgadikgadi Sanctuary (for Flamingos
). They are both located in Central District.
Environmental problems[edit]
A baobab tree (Adansonia digitata)
Botswana faces two major environmental problems: drought and desertification. Th
e desertification problems predominantly stem from the severe times of drought i
n the country. Three quarters of the country's human and animal populations depe
nd on groundwater due to drought. Groundwater use through deep borehole drilling
has somewhat eased the effects of drought. Surface water is scarce in Botswana
and less than 5% of the agriculture in the country is sustainable by rainfall. I
n the remaining 95% of the country, raising livestock is the primary source of r
ural income. Approximately 71% of the country's land is used for communal grazin
g, which has been a major cause of the desertification and the accelerating soil
erosion of the country.[12]
Since raising livestock has proven to be profitable for the people of Botswana,
the land continues to be exploited. The animal populations have continued to dra
matically increase. From 1966 to 1991 the livestock population has increased fro
m 1.7 million to 5.5 million.[12]:64 Similarly, the human population has increas
ed from 574,000 in 1971 to 1.5 million in 1995, nearly a 200% increase. "Over 50
% of all households in Botswana own cattle, which is currently the largest singl
e source of rural income." "Rangeland degradation or desertification is regarded
as the reduction in land productivity as a result of overstocking and overgrazi
ng or as a result of veld product gathering for commercial use. Degradation is e
xacerbated by the effects of drought and climate change."[12] Environmentalists
report that the Okavango Delta is drying up due to the increased grazing of live
stock.[13] The Okavango Delta is one of the major semi-forested wetlands in Bots
wana and one of the largest inland deltas in the world; it is a crucial ecosyste
m to the survival of many animals.[13]
The Department of Forestry and Range Resources has already begun to implement a

project to reintroduce indigenous vegetation into communities in Kgalagadi South

, Kweneng North and Boteti.[14] Reintroduction of indigenous vegetation will hel
p with the degradation of the land. The United States Government has also entere
d into an agreement with Botswana, giving them $7 million US dollars to reduce B
otswana's debt by $8.3 million US dollars. The stipulation of the US reducing Bo
tswana's debt is that Botswana will focus on more extensive conservation of the
land.[13]
The United Nations Development Programme claims that poverty is a major problem
behind the overexploitation of resources, including land, in Botswana. To help c
hange this the UNDP joined in with a project started in the southern community o
f Struizendam in Botswana. The purpose of the project is to draw from "indigenou
s knowledge and traditional land management systems". The leaders of this moveme
nt are supposed to be the people in the community, to draw them in, in turn incr
easing their possibilities to earn an income and thus decreasing poverty. The UN
DP also stated that the government has to effectively implement policies to allo
w people to manage their own local resources and are giving the government infor
mation to help with policy development[15]
Politics and government[edit]
House of the Parliament of Botswana in Gaborone
Main articles: Politics of Botswana and Human rights in Botswana
See also: Foreign relations of Botswana
The Constitution of Botswana is the rule of law which protects the citizens of B
otswana and represents their rights. The politics of Botswana take place in a fr
amework of a representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Botswa
na is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Ex
ecutive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in bot
h the government and the Parliament of Botswana. The most recent election, its t
enth, was held on 16 October 2009.
Since independence was
wana Democratic Party.
islature. According to
country in Africa and

declared, the party system has been dominated by the Bots

The judiciary is independent of the executive and the leg
Transparency International, Botswana is the least corrupt
ranks similarly close to Portugal and South Korea.[16]

Foreign relations and military[edit]

Main article: Botswana Defence Force
Signs at the Botswana-Zimbabwe border, 2010
At the time of independence, Botswana had no armed forces. It was only after the
Rhodesian and South African militaries struck respectively against the Zimbabwe
People's Revolutionary Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe[17] bases that the Botswana D
efence Force (BDF) was formed in 1977.[citation needed] The President is command
er-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints a defence council. The BDF has appr
oximately 12,000 members.
Following political changes in South Africa and the region, the BDF's missions h
ave increasingly focused on prevention of poaching, preparing for disasters, and
foreign peacekeeping. The United States has been the largest single foreign con
tributor to the development of the BDF, and a large segment of its officer corps
have received U.S. training. It is considered an apolitical and professional in
stitution.[citation needed]
The Botswana government gave the United States the green light to explore the po
ssibility of establishing an Africa Command (Africom) base in the country.
Administrative divisions[edit]
Main articles: Districts of Botswana and Sub-districts of Botswana

Botswana is divided into nine districts.

Central District
North-West District
Ghanzi District
Kgalagadi District
Kgatleng District
Kweneng District
North-East District
South-East District
Southern District
Botswana is further divided into 15 councils which includes the 9 districts coun
cils from the 9 districts plus some councils from urban or town councils being:
Gaborone City
Francistown City of,
Lobatse Town
Selebi-Phikwe Town
Jwaneng Town
Sowa Township
North-West District
Ghanzi District
Kgatleng District
South-East District
Central District
North-East District
Kgalagadi District
Southern
District
Kweneng District
Gaborone*
Francistown *
* Lobatse
* Selebi-Phikwe
Jwaneng *
Sowa *
Economy[edit]
Headquarters of Debswana Diamond Company Ltd in Gaborone
Graphical depiction of Botswana's product exports in 28 color-coded categories.
GDP per capita (current), compared to neighbouring countries (world average = 10
0)
Main article: Economy of Botswana
The Bank of Botswana serves as a central bank in order to develop and maintain t
he Botswana pula, the country's currency. Since independence, Botswana has had o
ne of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world.[18] Botswana h
as transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle
-income country. By one estimate, it has the fourth highest gross national incom
e at purchasing power parity in Africa, giving it a standard of living around th
at of Mexico and Turkey.[19]
The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Botswana is responsible for promoting busi
ness development throughout the country. According to the International Monetary
Fund, economic growth averaged over 9% per year from 1966 to 1999. Botswana has
a high level of economic freedom compared to other African countries.[20] The g
overnment has maintained a sound fiscal policy, despite consecutive budget defic
its in 2002 and 2003, and a negligible level of foreign debt. It earned the high

est sovereign credit rating in Africa and has stockpiled foreign exchange reserv
es (over $7 billion in 2005/2006) amounting to almost two and a half years of cu
rrent imports.
An array of financial institutions populates the country's financial system, wit
h pension funds and commercial banks being the two most important segments by as
set size. Banks remain profitable, well-capitalised, and liquid, as a result of
growing national resources and high interest rates.[21]
Botswana's competitive banking system is one of Africa's most advanced.[clarific
ation needed] Generally adhering to global standards in the transparency of fina
ncial policies and banking supervision, the financial sector provides ample acce
ss to credit for entrepreneurs.[citation needed] The opening of Capital Bank in
2008 brought the total number of licensed banks to eight.[citation needed] The g
overnment is involved in banking through state-owned financial institutions and
a special financial incentives program that is aimed at increasing Botswana's st
atus as a financial centre.[citation needed] Credit is allocated on market terms
, although the government provides subsidised loans.[citation needed] Reform of
non-bank financial institutions has continued in recent years, notably through t
he establishment of a single financial regulatory agency that provides more effe
ctive supervision.[citation needed] The government has abolished exchange contro
ls, and with the resulting creation of new portfolio investment options, the Bot
swana Stock Exchange is growing.[citation needed]
Botswana's trading partners in 2004.
The constitution prohibits the nationalisation of private property and provides
for an independent judiciary, and the government respects this in practice. The
legal system is sufficient to conduct secure commercial dealings, although a ser
ious and growing backlog of cases prevents timely trials. The protection of inte
llectual property rights has improved significantly. Botswana is ranked second o
nly to South Africa among sub-Saharan Africa countries in the 2009 International
Property Rights Index.
While generally open to foreign participation in its economy, Botswana reserves
some sectors for citizens. Increased foreign investment plays a significant role
in the privatisation of state-owned enterprises. Investment regulations are tra
nsparent, and bureaucratic procedures are streamlined and open, although somewha
t slow. Investment returns such as profits and dividends, debt service, capital
gains, returns on intellectual property, royalties, franchise's fees, and servic
e fees can be repatriated without limits.
Botswana imports refined petroleum products and electricity from South Africa. T
here is some domestic production of electricity from coal. In spite of one of th
e highest insolation levels in the world, Botswana has no significant solar ener
gy capacity.
Gemstones and precious metals[edit]
In Botswana, the Department of Mines and Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water
Resources, led by Hon Onkokame Kitso Mokaila in Gaborone, maintains data regardi
ng mining throughout the country. Debswana, the largest diamond mining company o
perating in Botswana, is 50% owned by the government.[22] The mineral industry p
rovides about 40% of all government revenues.[23] In 2007, significant quantitie
s of uranium were discovered, and mining was projected to begin by 2010. Several
international mining corporations have established regional headquarters in Bot
swana, and prospected for diamonds, gold, uranium, copper, and even oil, many co
ming back with positive results. Government announced in early 2009 that they wo
uld try to shift their economic dependence on diamonds, over serious concern tha
t diamonds are predicted to dry out in Botswana over the next twenty years.

Botswanas Orapa mine is the largest diamond mine in the world in terms of value a
nd quantity of carats produced annually.[citation needed] Estimated to produce o
ver 11 million carats in 2013, with an average price of $145/carat, the Orapa mi
ne is estimated to produce over $1.6 billion worth of diamonds in 2013.[24]
Demographics[edit]
Main article: Demographics of Botswana
A girl in the Okavango Delta.
The Tswana are the majority ethnic group in Botswana, making up 79% of the popul
ation. The largest minority ethnic groups are the BaKalanga, San or AbaThwa also
known as Basarwa. Other tribes are Bayei, Bambukushu, Basubia, Baherero and Bak
galagadi. In addition, there are small numbers of whites and Indians, both group
s being roughly equally small in number. Botswana s Indian population is made up
of many Indian-Africans of several generations, from Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzani
a, Mauritius, South Africa, and so on, as well as first generation Indian immigr
ants. The white population speaks English and Afrikaans and makes up roughly 3%
of the population.
Since 2000, because of deteriorating economic conditions in Zimbabwe, the number
of Zimbabweans in Botswana has risen into the tens of thousands.[25]
Fewer than 10,000 San are still living the traditional hunter-gatherer style of
life. Since the mid-1990s the central government of Botswana has been trying to
move San out of their lands.[26] The UN s top official on indigenous rights, Pro
f. James Anaya, condemned Botswana s actions toward the San in a report released
in February 2010.[27][28]
Language[edit]
Main articles: Languages of Botswana and Setswana
The official language of Botswana is English although Setswana is widely spoken
across the country. In Setswana, prefixes are more important than they are in ma
ny other languages. These prefixes include Bo, which refers to the country, Ba,
which refers to the people, Mo, which is one person, and Se which is the languag
e. For example, the main tribe of Botswana is the Tswana people, hence the name
Botswana for its country. The people as a whole are Batswana, one person is a Mo
tswana, and the language they speak is Setswana. Other languages spoken in Botsw
ana include Kalanga (sekalanga), Sarwa (sesarwa), Ndebele, !X and in some parts Af
rikaans.
Religion[edit]
Main article: Religion in Botswana
Religion in Botswana (Pew Research)[29]
religion
percent
Protestant
66%
None
20%
Catholic
7%
Folk
6%
Other
1%
An estimated 70% of the country s citizens identify themselves as Christians. An

glicans, Methodists, and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa mak
e up the majority of Christians. There are also congregations of Lutherans, Bapt
ists, the Dutch Reformed Church, Mennonites, Roman Catholics, Seventh-day Advent
ists, Mormons and Jehovah s Witnesses in the country. In Gabrone, there is a Lut
heran History Centre which is open to the public.
According to the 2001 census, the country has around 5,000 Muslims, mainly from
South Asia, 3,000 Hindus and 700 Baha is. Approximately 20% of citizens espouse
no religion. Religious services are well attended in both rural and urban areas.
[30]
Culture[edit]
Dance at a cultural day
Main article: Culture of Botswana
A rondavel at a lodge near the Kalahari Desert.
Besides referring to the language of the dominant people groups in Botswana, Set
swana is the adjective used to describe the rich cultural traditions of the Bats
wana-whether construed as members of the Tswana ethnic groups or of all citizens
of Botswana. The Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith has written popular nov
els (No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series) about Botswana that entertain as wel
l as inform the reader about the culture and customs of Botswana.
Music[edit]
Main article: Music of Botswana
Botswana music is mostly vocal and performed sometimes without drums depending o
n the occasion; it also makes heavy use of string instruments. Botswana folk mus
ic has instruments such as Setinkane (a Botswana version of miniature piano), Se
gankure/Segaba (a Botswana version of the Chinese instrument Erhu), Moropa (Mero
pa -plural) (a Botswana version of the many varieties of drums), phala (a Botswa
na version of a whistle used mostly during celebrations. It comes in variety of
forms too). Botswana cultural musical instruments are not confined only to the s
trings or drums. the hands are used as musical instruments too, by either clappi
ng them together or against phathisi( goat skin turned inside out wrapped around
the calf area; it is only used by men) to create music and rhythm. For the last
few decades, the guitar has been celebrated as a versatile music instrument for
Tswana music as it offers a variety in string which the Segaba instrument does
not have. It is the outsider that found a home within the culture. The highlight
of any celebration or event that shows especially happiness is the dancing. Thi
s differs by regime, age, gender and status in the group or if it s a tribal act
ivity, your status in the community. The national anthem is Fatshe leno la rona.
Written and composed by Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete, it was adopted upon indepen
dence in 1966.[citation needed]
Visual arts[edit]
Textile art
Main article: Art of Botswana
In the northern part of Botswana, women in the villages of Etsha and Gumare are
noted for their skill at crafting baskets from Botswana from Mokola Palm and loc
al dyes. The baskets are generally woven into three types: large, lidded baskets
used for storage, large, open baskets for carrying objects on the head or for w
innowing threshed grain, and smaller plates for winnowing pounded grain. The art
istry of these baskets is being steadily enhanced through color use and improved
designs as they are increasingly produced for commercial use.
Other notable artistic communities include Thamaga Pottery and Oodi Weavers, bot
h located in the southeastern part of Botswana.

The oldest paintings from both Botswana and South Africa depict hunting, animal
and human figures, and were made by the Khoisan (!Kung San/Bushmen) over twenty
thousand years ago within the Kalahari desert.
Food[edit]
Boerewors
Main article: Cuisine of Botswana
The cuisine of Botswana is unique but also shares some characteristics with othe
r cuisine of Southern Africa. Examples of Botswana food are pap, boerewors, samp
, vetkoek and mopani worms. A food unique to Botswana includes seswaa, heavily s
alted mashed-up meat.
Sports[edit]
See also: Botswana at the Olympics
Football is the most popular sport in Botswana, with qualification for the 2012
Africa Cup of Nations being the biggest achievement to date. Other popular sport
s are cricket, tennis, rugby, badminton,softball, handball, golf, and track and
field.[31][32] Botswana is an associate member of the International Cricket Coun
cil. Botswana became a member of The International Badminton Federation and Afri
ca Badminton Federation in 1991. Presently, the Botswana Golf Union offers an am
ateur golf league in which golfers compete in tournaments and championships.
Botswana won its first Olympic medal in 2012 when Nijel Amos won silver in the 8
00 metres. In 2011 Amantle Montsho became world champion in the 400 metres and w
on Botswana s first athletics medal on the world level. Another famous Botswana
athlete is high jumper Kabelo Kgosiemang, three times African champion.
The card game bridge has a strong following; it was first played in Botswana ove
r 30 years ago and grew in popularity during the 1980s. Many British expatriate
school teachers informally taught the game in Botswana s secondary schools. The
Botswana Bridge Federation (BBF) was founded in 1988 and continues to organise t
ournaments. Bridge has remained popular and the BBF has over 800 members.[33] In
2007, the BBF invited the English Bridge Union to host a week-long teaching pro
gram in May 2008.[34]
Education[edit]
Buildings of the new and old Botswana university. Botswana s economic growth has
had a positive impact on the university.
Main article: Education in Botswana
Botswana has made great strides in educational development since independence in
1966. At that time there were very few graduates in the country and only a very
small percentage of the population attended secondary school. Botswana increase
d its adult literacy rate from 69% in 1991 to 83% in 2008.[35]
With the discovery of diamonds and the increase in government revenue that this
brought, there was a huge increase in educational provision in the country. All
students were guaranteed ten years of basic education, leading to a Junior Certi
ficate qualification. Approximately half of the school population attends a furt
her two years of secondary schooling leading to the award of the Botswana Genera
l Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE). Secondary education in Botswana is
neither free nor compulsory.
After leaving school, students can attend one of the seven technical colleges in
the country, or take vocational training courses in teaching or nursing. The be
st students enter the University of Botswana, Botswana College of Agriculture, a
nd the Botswana Accountancy College in Gaborone. Many other students end up in t
he numerous private tertiary education colleges around the country. Notable amon
gst these is Botho University, the country s first private university which offe

rs undergraduate programmes in Accounting, Business and Computing. Another inter

national university is the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology which of
fers various Associate Degrees in Creative Arts.[36] Other tertiary institutions
include Ba Isago, ABM University College, New Era, Gaborone Institute of Profes
sional Studies etc. Tremendous strides in providing quality education have been
made by private education providers such that a large number of the best student
s in the country are now applying to them as well.A vast majority of these stude
nts are government sponsored. A larger influx of tertiary students is expected w
hen construction of the nation s second international university, The Botswana I
nternational University of Science and Technology, is completed in Palapye.
The quantitative gains have not always been matched by qualitative ones. Primary
schools in particular still lack resources, and the teachers are less well paid
than their secondary school colleagues. The Botswana Ministry of Education[37]
is working to establish libraries in primary schools in partnership with the Afr
ican Library Project.[38] The Government of Botswana hopes that by investing a l
arge part of national income in education, the country will become less dependen
t on diamonds for its economic survival, and less dependent on expatriates for i
ts skilled workers.[39] Those objectives are in part pursued through policies in
favour of vocational education, gathered within the NPVET (National Policy on V
ocational Education and Training, aiming to "integrate the different types of vo
cational education and training into one comprehensive system".[39] Botswana inv
ests 21% of its government spending in education.[35]
In January 2006, Botswana announced the reintroduction of school fees after two
decades of free state education[40] though the government still provides full sc
holarships with living expenses to any Botswana citizen in university, either at
the University of Botswana or if the student wishes to pursue an education in a
ny field not offered locally, such as medicine, they are provided with a full sc
holarship to study abroad.
Health[edit]
Main article: Health in Botswana
The Ministry of Health in Botswana is responsible for overseeing the quality and
distribution of healthcare throughout the country. Life expectancy at birth was
55 in 2009 according to the World Bank, having previously fallen from a peak of
64.1 in 1990 to a low of 49 in 2002.[41]
The Cancer Association of Botswana is a voluntary non-governmental organisation.
The association is a member of the Union for International Cancer Control. The
Association supplements existing services through provision of cancer prevention
and health awareness programmes, facilitating access to health services for can
cer patients and offering support and counseling to those affected.[42]
HIV/AIDS epidemic[edit]
Main article: HIV/AIDS in Botswana
Life expectancy in several African countries from 1960 to 2002. Botswana had the
highest life expectancy until HIV/AIDS began to reduce it in the late 1980s.
Like elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, the economic impact of AIDS is considerabl
e. Economic development spending was cut by 10% in 20023 as a result of recurring
budget deficits and rising expenditure on healthcare services. Botswana has bee
n hit very hard by the AIDS pandemic; in 2006 it was estimated that life expecta
ncy at birth had dropped from 65 to 35 years.[43] However, after Botswana s 2011
census current life expectancy is estimated at 54.06 years.[1] This revision sh
ows the difficulty of accurately estimating the prevalence and impact of HIV/AID
S in the absence of hard numbers.
The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana was estimated at 24% for adults in 2006.[
44] In 2003, the government began a comprehensive program involving free or chea

p generic anti-retroviral drugs as well as an information campaign designed to s

top the spread of the virus. Under the leadership of Festus Mogae, the Governmen
t of Botswana solicited outside help in fighting HIV/AIDS and received early sup
port from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Merck Foundation, and toget
her formed the African Comprehensive HIV AIDS Partnership (ACHAP). Other early p
artners include the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute, of the Harvard School of Pu
blic Health and the Botswana-UPenn Partnership of the University of Pennsylvania
. According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, universal access to treatment defined as
80% coverage or greater has been achieved in Botswana.[45]
Potential reasons for Botswana s high HIV prevalence include concurrent sexual p
artnerships, transactional sex, cross-generational sex, and a significant number
of people who travel outside of their local communities in pursuit of work. The
promiscuous nature of many sexual relationships further impacts the health situ
ation,[citation needed] to the extent that it has given rise to a Love Vocabular
y[46] that is unique to the region.
Approximately one in six Batswana has HIV, giving Botswana the second highest in
fection rate in the world after nearby Swaziland.[47] The government recognises
that AIDS will affect the economy and is trying to combat the epidemic, includin
g free anti-retroviral drug treatment and a nation-wide Prevention of Mother-toChild Transmission program. Botswana has reduced HIV transmission from infected
mothers to their children from about 40% to just 4%.
Tourism[edit]
The Botswana Tourism Organisation is the country s official tourism group. Prima
rily, tourists visit Gaborone due to the city having numerous activities for vis
itors. Hotels include; The Lonrho Lansmore Masa Square, a 5-Star hotel, and The
Gaborone Sun, a luxury hotel that also features a casino. The Lion Park Resort i
s Botswana s first permanent amusement park and hosts events such as birthday pa
rties for families. In Botswana, there are also destinations which include; The
Gaborone Yacht Club and The Kalahari Fishing Club. In addition, natural attracti
ons for tourists in Botswana include; The Gaborone Dam and Mokolodi Nature Reser
ve. There are golf courses which are maintained by the Botswana Golf Union (BGU)
. The Phakalane Golf Estate is a multi-million dollar clubhouse that offers both
hotel accommodations and access to golf courses.
Museums in Botswana include;
Botswana National Museum in Gaborone
Kgosi Bathoen II (Segopotso) Museum in Kanye
Kgosi Sechele I Museum in Molepolole
Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe
Nhabe Museum in Maun
Phuthadikobo Museum in Mochudi
Supa Ngwano Museum Centre in Francistown
See also[edit]
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Commonwealth realms portal
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Botswana portal
Commonwealth of Nations
Communications in Botswana
Cuisine of Botswana
Outline of Botswana
Postage stamps and postal history of Bechuanaland Protectorate
Transport in Botswana
Tuli block
Notes and references[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c d "Botswana". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agenc

y. 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.

Jump up ^ 2011 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Results Brief
^ Jump up to: a b c d "Botswana". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2012-04
-17.
Jump up ^ "2014 Human Development Report Summary". United Nations Development Pr
ogramme. 2014. pp. 2125. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
Jump up ^ "Botswana Profile".
Jump up ^ "Bechuanaland was the former name of Botswana".
Jump up ^ Darwa, P. Opoku (2011). Kazungula Bridge Project. African Development
Fund. p. Appendix IV. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
Jump up ^ http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/GNI_PPP_of_countries.htm
Jump up ^ http://www.bedia.co.bw/article.php?id_mnu=50
Jump up ^ "Botswana History". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
Jump up ^ "Namibia General Information". Southern-eagle.com. 21 March 1990. Retr
ieved 2011-08-21.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Darkoh" (PDF). IS: Rala.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Botswana, US sign Debt-for-Nature agreement". Afrol. Retr
ieved 2010-07-04.
Jump up ^ "NOTCDIB" (PDF). UNCCD.
Jump up ^ "Botswana villages fighting desertification". Afrol. Retrieved 2010-07
-04.
Jump up ^ Transparency International 2008 Corruption Perception Index 2008. Retr
ieved 7-23-09.
Jump up ^ Parks, Michael (20 May 1986). "S. Africa Raids 3 Nearby Nations : Atta
cks Rebel Bases in Capitals of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana". Los Angeles Times
.
Jump up ^ US Department of State website, Background Note: Botswana, May 2009. R
etrieved 7-23-09.
Jump up ^ Klaus Kstle (24 July 2009). "GNI PPP table". Nationsonline.org. Retriev
ed 2010-01-19.
Jump up ^ "Botswana ranked Africa s leader in economic freedom".
Jump up ^ "MFW4A Botswana Financial Sector Profile". Mfw4a.org. Retrieved 2011-0
8-21.
Jump up ^ Joe Nocera (8 August 2008). "Diamonds are Forever in Botswana". New Yo
rk Times. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
Jump up ^ "Botswana Country Brief". World Bank.
Jump up ^ "Ranking Of The World s Diamond Mines By Estimated 2013 Production", K
itco, August 20, 2013.
Jump up ^ Betts, Alexander; Kaytaz, Ezra (2009). National and international resp
onses to the Zimbabwean exodus: implications for the refugee protection regime.
Research Papers 175. Policy Development and Evaluation Service, United Nations H
igh Commissioner for Refugees.
Jump up ^ Stefan Lovgren (14 September 2004) African Bushmen Tour U.S. to Fund F
ight for Land. National Geographic News.
Jump up ^ "UN report condemns Botswana s treatment of Bushmen". Survival Interna
tional. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
Jump up ^ "Challenges faced by Botswana s indigenous require Government action U
N expert". Un.org. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
Jump up ^ Pew Research Center s Religion & Public Life Project: Botswana. Pew Re
search Center. 2010.
Jump up ^ "Botswana. International Religious Freedom Report 2007". U.S. Departme
nt of State. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
Jump up ^ "Sparks to fly at Diamond". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). 26 January 2
006. Archived from the original on 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
Jump up ^ "Opinion the Academic World". Botswana Press Agency (BOPA). Archived f
rom the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
Jump up ^ "Botswana Bridge Federation". Botswana National Sports Council. Archiv
ed from the original on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
Jump up ^ "English Bridge Union". English Bridge Union. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
^ Jump up to: a b "UNESCO Institute for Statistics". Stats.uis.unesco.org. Retri

eved 2011-08-21.
Jump up ^ http://www.limkokwing.net/botswana/
Jump up ^ "Ministry of Education and Skills Development: Home". Moe.gov.bw. 27 J
uly 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
Jump up ^ "Library Partner Botswana Ministry of Education". Africanlibraryprojec
t.org. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
^ Jump up to: a b UNESCO-UNEVOC s Botswana profile
Jump up ^ BBC News website, Botswana brings back school fees. Retrieved 2009-237.
Jump up ^ "World Bank Botswana Data". Retrieved 2011-07-20.
Jump up ^ "Cancer Association of Botswana". Union for International Cancer Contr
ol. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
Jump up ^ Kallings LO (2008). "The first postmodern pandemic: 25 years of HIV/AI
DS". J Intern Med 263 (3): 21843. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01910.x. PMID 1820
5765.
Jump up ^ "Global Report". UNAIDS. 2006.
Jump up ^ UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011. unaids.org
Jump up ^ "Exposing Botswana s Love Vocabulary". Exposing Botswana s Love Vocabu
lary. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
Jump up ^ "HIV and Aids in Botswana". Avert (International Aids Charity). Retrie
ved 2009-07-23.
Further reading[edit]
Denbow, James & Thebe, Phenyo C. (2006). Culture and Customs of Botswana. Westpo
rt, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33178-2.
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