Botswana
From Travel.asianfanatics.net
The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana) is a landlocked nation in [outhern Africa. Formerly the United Kingdom|British protectorate of Bechuanaland Protectorate|Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming Independence|independent on September 30, 1966. It is bordered by South Africa]] to the south, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is predominated by cattle raising and mining, especially diamond|diamonds. The country is named after its largest ethnic group, the Tswana.
[edit] History
The earliest inhabitants of the region were the San, who were followed by the Tswana. About half the country today is ethnic Tswana. The term for the country's people, Batswana, refers to national rather than ethnic origin.
Encroachment by the Zulu in the 1820s and by Boers from Transvaal in the 1870s and 1880s threatened the peace of the region. In 1885, Britain established the area as a protectorate, then known as Bechuanaland. In 1961, Britain granted a constitution to the country. Self-government began in 1965, and on Sept. 30, 1966, the country became independent. Botswana is Africa's oldest democracy.
The new country maintained good relations with its white-ruled neighbors, but gradually changed its policies, harboring rebel groups from South Rhodesia as well as some from South Africa.
Although Botswana is rich in diamonds, it has high unemployment and stratified socioeconomic classes. In 1999 it suffered its first budget deficit in 16 years because of a slump in the international diamond market. Yet it remains one of the wealthiest as well as most stable countries on the continent.
After 17 years in power, President Ketumile Masire retired in 1997, and Festus Mogae, an Oxford-educated economist, became the new president. Mogae has won high marks from the international financial community for continuing to privatize Botswana's mining and industrial operations.
Although Botswana's economic outlook remains strong, the devastation that AIDS has caused threatens to destroy the country's future. In 2001, Botswana had the highest rate of HIV infection in the world: 350,000 of its 1.6 million people were infected, and half the population between 25 and 29 were dying of the disease. In 2002, however, Botswana, with the help of international donors, launched an ambitious national campaign that provided free anti-viral drugs to anyone who needed them. By March 2004, Botswana no longer had the world's highest HIV infection rate. But with 37.5% of the population infected, the country remains on the brink of catastrophe.
President Mogae won a second and final four-year term in Oct. 2004.
[edit] Economy
Taking full advantage of the discovery of mineral resources, mainly diamonds, in the late 1960s, Botswana shifted its focus from cattle industry to the diamond industry. Today, Botswana is the world's largest supplier of gem-quality diamonds, with two-thirds of the production meeting gem standards. Diamonds account for four-fifths of Botswana's annual export revenue. After the diamonds were discovered in northern Botswana in the late 1960s, the first mine was opened at Orapa in 1971, followed by a smaller mine at Letlhakane. In 1982 another mine was opened at Jwaneng, which went on to become the world's richest mine. Important deposits of copper and nickel found in the Selebi-Pikwe area are also exported, as well as soda ash and small quantities of gold. In the year 2001, some 20 million carats of gem-quality diamonds were extracted.
Apart from the diamonds, income is also derived from the export of labor to South Africa and also a slaughterhouse opened at Lobatse in 1954 helped modernize Botswana's livestock industry. The livestock industry also has a fair share of contribution towards the economy.
In 2002 the number of cattle was 2.4 million; goats, 2.3 million; and sheep, 370,000. The estimated budget in 1997 included revenues of $2.2 billion and expenditures of $1.7 billion.
[edit] Politics
Botswana has a flourishing multiparty constitutional democracy. Each of the elections since independence has been freely and fairly contested and has been held on schedule. The country's small white minority and other minorities participate freely in the political process. There are three main rival parties and a number of smaller parties. In national elections in 2004, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won 44 of 57 contested National Assembly seats, the Botswana National Front (BNF) won 12, and the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) won 1 seat. Individuals elected by the National Assembly hold an additional 4 seats; the ruling BDP currently holds all 4. The opposition out-polled the ruling BDP in most urban areas. The openness of the country's political system has been a significant factor in Botswana's stability and economic growth. General elections are held every 5 years. The next general election will be held in October 2009.
The president has executive power and is chosen by the National Assembly following countrywide legislative elections. The cabinet is selected by the president from the National Assembly; it consists of a vice president and a flexible number of ministers and assistant ministers, currently 14 and 6, respectively. The National Assembly has 57 elected and 4 specially elected members; it is expanded following each census (every 10 years; the most recent was conducted in 2001).
The advisory House of Chiefs represents the eight principal subgroups of the Batswana tribe, and four other members are elected by the sub chiefs of four of the districts. A draft of any National Assembly bill of tribal concern must be referred to the House of Chiefs for advisory opinion. Chiefs and other leaders preside over customary traditional courts, though all persons have the right to request that their case be considered under the formal British-based legal system.
The roots of Botswana's democracy lie in Setswana traditions, exemplified by the Kgotla, or village council, in which the powers of traditional leaders are limited by custom and law. Botswana's High Court has general civil and criminal jurisdiction. Judges are appointed by the president and may be removed only for cause and after a hearing. The constitution has a code of fundamental human rights enforced by the courts, and Botswana has a good human rights record.
Local government is administered by nine district councils and five town councils. District commissioners have executive authority and are appointed by the central government and assisted by elected and nominated district councilors and district development committees.
There has been ongoing debate about the political, social, and economic marginalization of the San (indigenous tribal population). The government's policies for the Basarwa (San) and other remote area dwellers continue to spark controversy. Botswana is also experiencing growing immigration from neighboring countries, especially Zimbabwe, due to its relatively strong economy. An electric fence has been installed between the two countries with military patrols and an aggressive deportation program. ([1])
