Britain originally established the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1885 (renamed Botswana at independence) to protect British strategic and economic interests in Southern Africa, and to prevent possible German and Boer/Afrikaner expansion into the territory of the Batswana (people of Botswana) from South West Africa and …
Why did the British colonized Botswana?
The British colonised the land of the Batswana in 1885 as a way of blocking possible alliance between the Boers in the Transvaal and the Germans in South West Africa (Namibia). The British called the territory Bechuanaland Protectorate.
How did Botswana gain independence from colonialism?
Previously known as Bechuanaland, Botswana gained independence from Britain on 30 September 1966 under the leadership of Seretse Khama. Khama was elected president by the National Assembly in 1966 and then reelected for two additional terms, until he passed away in 1980.
Why did the British declare Bechuanaland protectorate?
Abstract Britain declared Bechuanaland a “protectorate’ in 1885 in a move largely driven by military strategic considerations rather than by the availability of economic resources.
Why is Botswana successful?
Botswana’s impressive economic record compared to some of its neighbors has been built on a foundation of diamond mining, prudent fiscal policies, and a cautious foreign policy. Botswana’s economy is mostly dependent on diamond mining.
What is the difference between a protectorate and a colony?
A protectorate is a sovereign entity that is only guarded by a larger country, whereas a colony is an area within a bigger nation that is administered by the same country. In Protectorate, the majority rule does not apply. The majority rule does not apply in the Colony.
What was Botswana originally called?
Before its independence in 1966, Botswana was a British protectorate known as Bechuanaland. It was also one of the poorest and least-developed states in the world. The country is named after its dominant ethnic group, the Tswana (“Bechuana” in older variant orthography).
What is Botswana known for?
Botswana is well known for having some of the best wilderness and wildlife areas on the African continent. 38% of its total land area are devoted to national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas.
When was Bechuanaland annexed?
British Bechuanaland was a short-lived Crown colony of the United Kingdom that existed in southern Africa from its formation on 30 September 1885 until its annexation to the neighbouring Cape Colony on 16 November 1895. British Bechuanaland had an area of 51,424 square miles (133,190 km2) and a population of 84,210.
When did Botswana became a democracy?
Botswana is formally a multiparty constitutional democracy. Each of the elections since independence in September 1966 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.
Did you know facts about Botswana?
10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Botswana
- Botswana Is the Best Place to See Meerkats in the Wild.
- Botswana Is Africa’s Oldest Continuous Democracy. …
- One of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa Is Located in Botswana. …
- Over 70% of Botswana’s Total Area Is Desert. …
- Botswana Has Africa’s Highest Concentration of Elephants. …
Is Botswana richer than South Africa?
Botswana vs South Africa: Economic Indicators Comparison
South Africa with a GDP of $368.3B ranked the 35th largest economy in the world, while Botswana ranked 117th with $18.6B. By GDP 5-years average growth and GDP per capita, South Africa and Botswana ranked 151st vs 96th and 95th vs 84th, respectively.
Who owned Botswana?
After 80 years as a British protectorate, Bechuanaland attained self-government in 1965, becoming the independent Republic of Botswana on September 30, 1966, and maintaining a position of stability and harmony ever since.
Was Bophuthatswana a country?
Bophuthatswana was the second Bantustan to be declared an independent state, after Transkei. Its territory constituted a scattered patchwork of enclaves spread across what was then Cape Province, Orange Free State and Transvaal. Its seat of government was Mmabatho, which is now a suburb of Mahikeng.
Why was the protectorate so important?
The Protectorate is important in other ways. It was a British, not an English, regime, uniting England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland under a single system of government and, for the first time, giving all the component nations seats in a single, new, elected British parliament.
Why was protectorate created?
In the 16th century the rise of European national states led to increasing use of the system of protectorates as a prelude to annexation, particularly by France. This use was also developed during the 19th century as a means of colonial expansion or as a means of maintaining the balance of power.
What is the purpose of a protectorate?
A protectorate is a state that is controlled and protected by another sovereign state. It is a dependent territory that has been granted local autonomy over most internal affairs while still recognizing the suzerainty of a more powerful sovereign state without being its direct possession.
How corrupt is Botswana?
The 2019 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index gave Botswana a corruption perceptions index of 61, where 100 is the most clean and 0 is the most corrupt. Botswana was the 34th lowest out of 180 countries in terms of how corrupt its public sector was perceived to be.
Why is Botswana so poor?
Unstable agricultural conditions in a country where nearly half (48.5 percent) of land is for agricultural use, contribute to poverty. Another major reason why Botswana is poor is the intensity of HIV/AIDS within its borders. … The HIV/AIDS epidemic is hugely detrimental to society and the economy.
What social issues Botswana?
Although Botswana is considered a peaceful country, issues such as poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, and high youth unemployment have the potential to become sources of conflict. Government needs to address the root causes of crime in the country in order to build a more secure society.