Simple directory > Regional > Botswana

Country : Botswana Official name: Republic of Botswana Head of State: President Festus Mogae (since Apr 1998; re-elected for final term 30 Oct 2004) Head of government: President Festus Mogae Ruling party: Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (since 1965; last re-elected 30 Oct 2004) Area: 582,000 square km Population: 1.80 million (2004) Capital: Gaborone Official language: English (official); Setswana (national). Currency: Pula (P) = 100 thebe Exchange rate: P4.57 per US$ (Nov 2004) (pula devalued by 7.5 per cent on 5 Feb 2004) GDP per capita: US$4,554 (2003) GDP real growth: 5.40% (2003) Labour force: 264,000 (2003) Unemployment: 40.00% (2003) Inflation: 10.10% (2003) Balance of trade: US$999.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$360.00 million (2003)

Historical profile

1885 Britain declared the country a protectorate and called it Bechuanaland.

1966 Independence for Botswana came a year after the territory's first election, which was won by Seretse Khama and his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

1980 On his death, Khama was succeeded by his vice president, Quett Ketumile Masire.

1984 and 1989 The ruling BDP easily won elections but was tainted by allegations of corruption.

1994 In the elections, the opposition party, Botswana National Front (BNF), took 13 seats and unseated three ministers.

1998 President Sir Quett Ketumile Masire retired from the presidency.

1999 The legislative elections were won by the BDP. The National Assembly chose Festus Mogae as president.

2001--02 The government's policy towards the San people (formerly called the Bushmen) in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve was criticised internationally for its refusal to recognise the ownership rights of the Bushmen over the land they have lived on for at least 20,000 years. The Reserve was originally created in 1961 to constitute a refuge for the marginalised San people. However, the tourism potential and diamonds increased the value of these marginal lands, leading the government to relocate the original inhabitants.

2003 A partnership between the government, a pharmaceutical giant and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing free AIDS drugs to the country's HIV-infected population.

2004 The pula was devalued by 7.5 per cent on 5 February. Festus Mogae won a landslide victory in October when he was elected for a second (and final), five-year term.

There's no web links here.