Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked Representative Republic bordering Zimbabwe Rhodesia, South Africa, and Mittelankapfrica.

## Republic of Botswana

Flag of Botswana

Coat of Arms of Botswana

### Religion

73% Christian—66% Protestantism—7% Catholicism20% No religion6% Traditional faiths1% Others (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Islam, Rastafarian)

### Currency

Pula (Federal currency); Bechuana Dollar (private), Zebra Dollar (private), Digi-pula (private), Seafrikan pound (private), etc.

## History

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana gained independence on the 30th of November in 1966. Based on their constitution, they have always been a Representative Republic with Universal Suffrage. Their first president, Seretse Khama, leader of the independence movement, and heir to the Ngwato chieftanship (which he abdicated from), was elected in 1966 and was subsequently re-elected twice. All subsequent elected presidents have come from Khama's original Botswana Democratic Party, which has successfully held the Presidency as well as dominated the rest of the party system since independence. From the time of Botswana's independence, it has emerged from poverty to a global economy through economic freedom and rule of law.

### Intervention in Regional Politics

#### Zimbabwe Rhodesia

With the Zimbabwean Civil War in 1987, the Botswana government intervened in the conflict between the ZANU and ZAPU parties. They occupied the territory and gave support for the previous government, headed by Ian Smith and his colleague, Bishop Abel Muzorewa, in order to take control of the nation again. President Khama opposed Smith's view of democracy, but conceded that the damage caused by Mugabe was barbaric. The Botswana government helped in the arrest of Mugabe and the ZANU party officials, while providing Joshua Nkomo of ZAPU safety during the conflict. Nkomo's Georgist Reformism appealed to the Smith government more than Mugabe's Marxism, so Nkomo's policies were implemented in the government, and the ZAPU-RF party would be formed. Botswana would occupy the nation until 1991, where it left the country under the leadership of Joshua Nkomo and the ZAPU-RF party, whose land reform policies would be accepted after a few initial problems. During this time, several Batswana intellectuals would develop the proto-stages of Tiholegist thought, which would later be the philosophy that officials would use to rebuild South Africa.

#### South Africa

The Botswana defense forces again intervened in the South African Civil War in 1993, when the country was in ruin due to the violence. A joint-occupation by Botswana and Zimbabwe Rhodesia was conducted, in which the entire governmental system was overhauled due to it's refusal to relinquish Apartheid. Batswana intellectuals played a large role in the rebuilding of the union, through the recent development of Tiholegism. South Africa was restructured in what is referred to as "The Tiholegist experiment", as notable Tiholegist scholars, including Professor George Ayittey of Ghana, Dr. Akanyang Mpho of Botswana, Kagiso Mmolawa of Botswana, Jabulani Khoza of South Africa, who would later serve as the countries first president, and Dakari Mngumi, among others. Botswana remained in South Africa until 2000, while Zimbabwe Rhodesia was entrusted to oversee the restoration of normalcy in the area until 2005. The Caprivi strip was ceded to Botswana's territory during this time.

## Geography

The country is predominantly flat, tending toward gently rolling tableland. Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of its land surface. The Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is in the northwest. The Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan, lies in the north.

The Limpopo River Basin, the major landform of all of southern Africa, lies partly in Botswana, with the basins of its tributaries, the Notwane, Bonwapitse, Mahalapye, Lotsane, Motloutse and the Shashe, located in the eastern part of the country. The Notwane provides water to the capital through the Gaborone Dam. The Chobe River lies to the north, providing a boundary between Botswana and Western South Africa's Zambezi Region. The Chobe River meets with the Zambezi River at a place called Kazungula (meaning a small sausage tree, a point where Sebitwane and his Makololo tribe crossed the Zambezi into Zambia).

Botswana has diverse areas of wildlife habitat. In addition to the delta and desert areas, there are grasslands and savannas, where blue wildebeest, antelopes, and other mammals and birds are found. Northern Botswana has one of the few remaining large populations of the endangered African wild dog. Chobe Park, found in the Chobe District, has the world's largest concentration of African elephants. The park covers about 11,000 km2 (4,247 sq mi) and supports about 350 species of birds. The Chobe Park and Moremi Game Reserve (in the Okavango Delta) are major tourist destinations. Other reserves include the Central Kalahari Game Reserve located in the Kalahari desert in Ghanzi District; Makgadikgadi Pans Park and Nxai Pan Park are in Central District in the Makgadikgadi Pan. These reserves and parks were privatized in 2010, when they became profitable enough to survive on tourism in the private sector. Mashatu Game Reserve, one of the first private reserves, is located where the Shashe River and Limpopo River meet in eastern Botswana. Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone was the second fully private reserve. There are also specialised sanctuaries like Khama Rhino Sanctuary (for rhinoceros) and Makgadikgadi Sanctuary (for flamingos), which are managed by the government but ran for profit. They are both located in Central District.

## Politics

Mainstream Politics has been dominated by the Botswana Democratic Party. Under their leadership, Botswana has experienced rapid economic growth, as well as maintaining a very low corruption level in government. Other parties include: the Botswana Tiholegist Party, Botswana National Front, Alliance for Progressives, Botswana Congress Party, and Botswana Movement for Democracy, however these parties only manage to hold a few of the 58 seats in the National Assembly. The Democratic Party is described as Paleo-libertarian and Proto-Tiholegist, which the party has shifted from since its origins as a Conservative and Neo-conservative party. Botswana's government has a large share in Debswana, a remnant from the Debeers Diamond Company, before it was dissolved. Botswana's government manages it like a business.

### Tiholegism

Originally developed by Batswana intellectuals, Tiholegist thought poises that the path to success is through building on indigenous systems of governance, which in Africa are regarded as Capitalist and Tribal-Democratic. Tiholegism's presence in Botswana has influenced its economic and social policies, but a broader Tiholegist movement has not occurred within Botswana, and has mainly been influential in the rebuilding of South Africa, and in the African Union.