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History and Government
History: Between the seventh and 13th centuries, parts of Botswana were populated by thriving agricultural communities. In the 14th century, these communities came under the control of powerful Tswana dynasties originating in the region to the east that is now South Africa’s Transvaal. A further series of migrations followed the break-up of the main Tswana kingdoms, the Hurutshe and the Kwena, from the late 17th century; these migrants were firmly established in the southern part of Botswana by the 18th century and established a powerful military state controlling hunting, cattle-breeding and copper mining.
The early 19th century brought another period of upheaval as peoples from the north, dislocated by slavery and the collapse of their local economies, moved to new territory. The Kololo were followed by the Ndebele. They were quickly succeeded by British colonialists and Boer settlers. The local rulers, notably the Tswana King Sechele, who ruled between 1829 and 1892, allied themselves with the British against the Boers. In a form of sub-contracted or privatised colonialism characteristic of the British Empire, Botswana was eventually brought under full British colonial control in 1890 by the British South Africa Company, who supervised the territory and which became known as Bechuanaland Protectorate.
The British intended to hand the territory over to Rhodesia but, for a variety of reasons, were unable to do so; they were not prepared to cede it to South Africa. Thus, Botswana remained a British colony until independence in 1966 and Seretse Khama became the country’s first President, a position he retained until his death in 1980. The party which he had led, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), has dominated the country’s politics since independence, having won all six sets of national elections held since then. The latest of these was held in October 1999, and was the first electoral test for Festus Mogae, who had taken over as President after his predecessor, Quett Masire stood down in March 1998, in the middle of his third consecutive term in government. The main opposition party, the Botswana National Front (BNF), has made substantial progress against the BDP at local level – especially in urban areas – but the BDF’s overwhelming support in rural areas ensures its continuing rule.
The government’s main domestic priority is to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Abroad, Botswana has tended generally to tread softly with respect to its large southern neighbour, South Africa, not least because of its considerable economic dependence. However Botswana is benefiting both politically and economically since the advent of democratic government in Pretoria. Relations with its other neighbours are normally cordial; Gaborone is the permanent home of the Southern African Development Conference which promotes economic development in the region. The government has expressed deep concern over recent political developments in Zimbabwe but can do little to influence the situation.
Government: Executive power is held by the President, who is elected by the legislature, the National Assembly (40 out of the 44 members of which are elected by universal adult suffrage). The President appoints a Cabinet and receives advice from the House of Chiefs.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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