YEARS IN THE MAKING – BOTSWANA MILESTONES TO 1966

On Wednesday, September 30, 2020, Botswana will have attained 54 years of independence in which a lot has happened on both the country and the globe.

In 2020, Botswana got scientific approval for being where humans started.

According to Historian, Jeff Ramsey in an article titled 500,000 YEARS IN THE MAKING – BOTSWANA MILESTONES TO 1966

Beginning of time, the SothoTswana legend had it that the first person, Matsieng, was guided out of the underworld realm of the demigod Tintibane by Lowe, surfacing at Rasesa.

The chronology of events to present-day Botswana, is breathtaking and a must know information for history students, enthusiasts of the subjects, and needs to be archived and treasured all the time.

He says Stone Age tools were found throughout Botswana and that earliest rock paintings at the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site, provide a unique window of ancient humanity.

By 200 B.C. - Livestock keeping, the rise of pastoralism.

By 350 ( AD) - Early Iron Age settlements in northern and eastern Botswana coincide with the spread of arable agriculture.

From 700 - Emergence of larger semi-permanent settlements, the region integrated into coastal trading networks as locally smelted iron and natural products sought after in Asian markets.

From 1000 - Flourishing of late Iron Age civilisations in the ShasheLimpopo basin. The golden kingdom of Mapungubwe rules over much of eastern Botswana and adjacent parts of Zimbabwe and South Africa, giving birth to subsequent Ikalanga civilisations.

1400s - Mambo Madabhale Chibundule establishes BakalangaBahumbe Kingdom in north-eastern Botswana and south-western Zimbabwe.

1500s – Breakup of royal Baphofu Confederacy gives rise to modern Setswana merafe

1600s - Banyayi leader Chilisamhulu overthrows the Chibundule dynasty to establish new Bakalanga-Banyayi Kingdom. Following his defeat of the Portuguese in 1684, the new Mambo is referred to as Changamire Dombo, from his royal title Nichasike Dombolakonachingwango. Bakwena Kgosi Kgabo breaks from the House of Magopa to establish himself in south-eastern Botswana, joined by Bangwato and Bangwaketse.

1700s - Bangwaketse break away from the Bakwena to form separate morafe, followed by Bangwato and Batawana.

1801 - Truter-Somerville expedition, first official British contact with Batswana.

1816 - LMS missionaries begin work among Batswana. Kudumane mission founded.

1822 - Robert Moffat visits Kgosi Makaba II of the Bangwaketse, first missionary in Botswana.

1823 - The Makololo of Sebetwane begin their two decade invasion through eastern, central, and northwestern Botswana leading to the temporary breakup of many merafe.

1825 - Bangwaketse, Bakwena and Bakgatla bagaMmanaana defeated by Makololo at Losabanyana, Makaba II killed.

1826 - Bangwaketse under Kgosi Sebego defeat and expel Makololo from southern Botswana in a decisive August 28, 1826 Battle of Dithubaruba. Sebetwane moves into northern Botswana, rebuilds following.

1830 – Robert Moffat acquires printing press, begins publishing Setswana materials.

1831- Amandebele defeat alliance Griqua of Kaptien Barend Barends and Bakgatla bagaKgafela of Kgosi Pilane. Bakgatla surviours escape to join Bapedi.

1832 - Amandebele under “Tautona” Mzilakazi move into Madikwe region, demands tribute from all merafe. Barolong and Bangwaketse kill Amandebele tribute collectors. Barolong subsequently defeated at Khunwana, Sebego withdraws to Letlhakeng.

1833 – Amandebele invasion defeated by Sebego at Dutlwe. Bangwaketse subsequently invade western Kgalagadi, expelling the Ovambandero from Ghanzi, while raiding Bangaloga. Sechele becomes Kgosi of Bakwena.

1834-54 - Boers invade South African Highveld seizing land from Batswana and other Africans.

1835 - Sekgoma I becomes Kgosi of Bangwato.

1836 - Barolong Kgosi Moroka rescues Boers at Vegkop following an Amandebele attack. Temporary Boer-Batswana-Griqua alliance formed.

1837 - Under pressure of Batswana, Boers, and Griqua the Amandebele invade Zimbabwe via Botswana.

1840 - Amandebele join Amangoni in conquering the Bakalanga-Banyayi Kingdom.

1841 - David Livingstone begins missionary work in Botswana

1842 - Amandebele raid in eastern Botswana, clashing with Bangwato and Bakwena

1844 - Bangwato use guns in large numbers for the first time to defeat Amandebele at Shoshong. Sechele begins to acquire advanced munitions from Birmingham manufacturers as well as through local trading.

1847 - Kgosi Sechele assists David Livingstone in establishing first mission school as well as Church at Kolobeng. Letsholathebe becomes Kgosi of the Batawana.

1849 – Dikgosi Sechele, Sekgoma and Letsholathebe open the road to the north through their territories, acquiring guns in the process. Europeans begin travelling to Ngamiland and the middle Zambezi.

1852- Batswana- Boer War breaks out after Bakgatla bagaMmanaana flee into Botswana to escape Boers. Led by Sechele Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bakaa and Bakgatla resist Boer invasion at Dimawe, Kgwakgwe and Dithubaruba, resulting in the Boers retreat back into the Transvaal.

1852-53 – Batswana pillage farms in the western Transvaal resulting in the Boers temporarily abandoning the region west of Rustenburg and Potscheftroom. Batlokwa, Balete, Bahurutshe, and Barolong boo Ratshidi, as well as Bakgatla bagaMmanaana, migrate into Botswana to join Sechele.

1853 – Barolong boo Ratshidi wound Boer President Andries Pretorius during January 7, 1853 Battle of Setlagole. The following month, Sechele agrees to Pretorius request for ceasefire after Boers sue for peace.

1854 - Battle of Kwebe, armed with guns the Batawana defeat the Makololo.

1856-57 – First Setswana newspapers published – Molekoli oa Bechuana and Mokaeri oa Bechuana le Muleri oa Makuku.

1857- Setswana Bible published. Peace agreement between Sechele and Transvaal President Marthinus Pretorius (son of Andries). Arrival of Lutheran missionaries in Botswana. Gaseitsiwe overcomes Senthufe to become undisputed Kgosi of the Bangwaketse.

1858 - Sechele rescues Bangwato Prince Matsheng from Amandebele, who is installed as Bangwato Kgosi in place of Sekgoma. Nharo-Khoe of Dukiri in Ghanzi are defeated by Batawana.

1859 - Sechele facilitates re-installation of Sekgoma as Kgosi of Bangwato in place of Matsheng.

1863 - Amandebele attack on Shoshong defeated by Bangwato. With peace prevailing, merafe in Southeastern Botswana spread out from overcrowded Dithubaruba to found new settlements, including Molepolole, Moshupa, Mmankgodi, Manyana and later Kumakwane and Ramotswa.

1865-66 - Gaseitsiwe, Montshiwa, and Sechele threaten to go to war if Transvaal Boers seize Lehurutshe; the Boers back down. Bangwato Civil War breaks out between Sekgoma and his son Khama. Sechele agrees to reinstall Matsheng to bring peace.

1867- German explorer Karl Mauch finds gold in the Northeast District.

1869 - Paul Kruger flogs Bakgatla bagaKgafela Kgosi Kgamanyane. Many BagaKgafela subsequently relocate from Tshwenetshwene in the Transvaal to Mochudi in Kwena country.

1871 - Missionary Joseph Ludorf drafts constitution for “United Barolong, Batlhaping, and Bangwaketse Nations”. Bakwena subsequently join union, but constitution lapses. British annex diamond rich Batlhaping lands around Kimberly as Griqualand West.

1872 – Sechele’s son Sebele installs Khama as Kgosi of Bangwato in place of Matsheng.

1873 - Sekgoma installed once more as Bangwato Kgosi in place of Khama.

1875 – First full Setswana Dictionary published. Inter-merafe conflicts breakout throughout southern Botswana. Bakgatla bagaKgafela defeat Bakwena at Mochudi. Khama ousts Sekgoma in Gammangwato, remains in power till 1923 death.

1876 - Bakwena defeat BagaKgafela, Balete, and Batlokwa at Molepolole, using breech loading rifles. British occupy the Transvaal. Balozi destroy Vekuhane (Basubiya) state of Itenge.

1878-79 - First Anglo-Batlhaping War. British forces under Warren occupy Batswana lands south of the Molopo.

1881- British temporarily withdraw from the Transvaal and southern Batswana lands. Balete defeat Bangwaketse at Ramotswa. Inter-merafe wars in southern Botswana end.

1883 - Bakwena, Bangwaketse, and Barolong renew attempt to form a confederation to counter growing British and Boer threats. Barolong and Bangwaketse defeat Goshenite Boers.

1884 - British reoccupy Batswana lands south of the Molopo. Batawana with Wayeyi support massacre Amandebele at Battle of Khutiyabasadi, killing some two thousand.

1885 - The British unilaterally proclaim the Bechuanaland Protectorate to counter Germany’s occupation of Namibia.

1886 - British land commission awards 92% of Batlhaping and Barolong land south of the Molopo to whites.

1887 - Battle of Ngwapa, Bangwato defeat Baseleka with British support.

1888 - Rudd Concession becomes basis of Rhode’s British South Africa Company (BSACo) claims to Zimbabwe.

1889 - Most Batswana Dikgosi object to colonial rule at the Kopong Conference. BSACo is awarded a royal charter to administer Botswana and Central Africa in the name of the British Crown. Khama moves capital from Shoshong to Palapye.

1890 - Overriding local objections, the British through an Order-in Council grant themselves the right to exercise colonial control over Botswana through the Foreign Jurisdictions Act. The Protectorate is extended to Ngamiland and Chobe. BSACo Pioneer Column passes through Botswana in route to Zimbabwe.

1891- A second Order-in-Council gives the High Commissioner absolute administrative powers on the basis of the Bramestone Memorandum, which legally define the Bechuanaland Protectorate as: “An uncivilized territory to which Europeans resort in greater or less numbers, and where, inasmuch as the native rulers of the territory are incapable of maintaining peace, order and good government amongst Europeans, the protecting Power maintains courts, police and other institutions for the control, safety and benefit of its own subjects and of the natives.” Sekgoma Letsholathebe becomes Kgosi of Batawana.

1892 - Tati (Northeast District) joined to the Protectorate. Sechele dies.

1893 - Bechuanaland Border Police and Bangwato help the BSACo destroy the Amandebele Kingdom in Zimbabwe.

Concessions Commission meets.

1894 - Bangwato rule extended into Bukalanga region.

1895 - Bathoen I, Khama III, and Sebele I, travel to Britain to oppose the proposed transfer of their territories to BSACo administrative control.

1896 - Failure of Jameson Raid ends the immediate threat of the Protectorate’s transfers to BSACo control. Rinderpest (bolwane) destroys livestock and wild life. Batswana south of the Molopo annexed to the Cape Colony.

1897- Mafikeng to Bulawayo railway built. “Langeberg Rebellion” - Second Anglo-Batlhaping & Batharo War

1898 - Boers settled by BSACo in Ghanzi. 1899 - The major Batswana “reserves” are demarcated and Hut Tax is introduced.

1899-1902 - Batswana fight in the South African (Boer) War. Bakgatla conquer territory between Kgatleng and

Rustenburg but are forced by the British to give it up. Barolong and others defend Mafikeng.

1901 - Koranta ea Becoana, the first Setswana newspaper owned and run by Batswana, appears.

1902 - Khama moves capital from Palapye to Serowe.

1904-06 - Tens of thousands of Ovaherero and Nama flee to Botswana to escape German oppression and genocide in Namibia.

1906 - British depose and detain without trial Kgosi Sekgoma Letsholathebe of the Batawana.

1908 - Bathoen and Sebele petition against incorporation into proposed Union of South Africa. Germans invade south-western Botswana in failed effort to defeat the Nama of Simon Kooper.

1909 - Batswana continue to protest against the Union of South Africa. Bathoen and Sebele commission Joseph Gerrans to represent them in London. Germans occupy Eastern Caprivi causing many local Bekuhane to flee across Chobe into Botswana.

1910 - Bathoen I dies. Union of South Africa formed with provisions for future incorporation of Botswana. Sekgoma Letsholathebe loses case in Privy Council. 1911 - Sebele I dies.

1912: Native Recruiting Corporation begins systematic recruitment of migrant labour for mines. Batswana delegates attend the inaugural conference of the African National Congress. Sekgoma Letsholathebe settles at Kavimba, dies 1914.

1913 – First Setswana history book, Dinwao leha e le dipolelo kaga dico tsa Secwana, published.

1914-1918 - World War I, at least 3,500 Protectorate Batswana serve in France, East Africa, and Namibia.

1919 - Native (later African) Advisory Council established.

1920 - Babirwa of Malema forced from the Tuli Block.

1921 – Isang Pilane installed as regent of Bakgatla bagaKgafela, following stroke of Kgosi Linchwe I, begins building Bakgatla National School.

1924 - South Africa begins 15-year ban on cattle exported to the Union from the Protectorate.

1926 - Tshekedi Khama begins reign as Bangwato regent, escaping an early assassination attempt.

1927 – Bangwaketse regent, Ntebogang joins Dikgosi Tshekedi and Sebele II of Bakwena in petitioning against attempts to reduce the authority and autonomy of Bogosi.

1928 - Bathoen II installed as Kgosi of Bangwaketse. Bangwaketse pioneer the creation of a universal health service, two decades before the British NHS.

1929 - Installation of Kgosi Molefi II after Isang Pilane steps down from Bakgatla bagaKgafela regency.

1931- British detain without charges or trial Kgosi Sebele II of the Bakwena, exiling him to Gantsi.

1932 - Tati Training Institute founded by K.T. Motsete with support of Bakalanga communities in North East, but is closed permanently in 1941 due to insufficient funds during the war.

1933 - Tshekedi Khama briefly suspended as Bangwato regent after having a European flogged in the Serowe kgotla for misconduct. British threaten to bomb Moshupa, forcing kgosi Gobuamang to surrender. Death of Kgosi Gaborone at the age of about 110 years followed by the demarcation of Batlokwa Reserve

1934 - Resident Commissioner Charles

Rey issues “Native Proclamations,” resisted by Tshekedi and other dikgosi. Witwatersrand Native Labour Association begins recruiting mining labourers north of 22 degrees latitude.

1936 - Molefi of the Kgafela Kgatla suspended as kgosi.

1938 - Tribal treasuries introduced.

1939-1945 - World War II: more than 10,000 Batswana serve in Italy, the Middle East and North Africa.

1943 - Dikgosi accept revised “Native Administration” proclamations.

1944 - St. Joseph’s College, is founded by Roman Catholic Church, which had earlier established its mission station at Kgale in 1928.

1946 – Tshekedi organises “Bechuanaland Chiefs and Peoples” opposition at the United Nations to the incorporation of Namibia into South Africa. Death of Kgosi Moremi III results in regency of his widow Pulane Moremi.

1946-1948 - Batswana soldiers stationed in Palestine and Egypt as High Commission Territories Corps. Corps disbanded due to South African pressure.

1947 - Village of followers of John Nswazwi stormed by Bangwato in presence of Protectorate police.

1949 - Seretse Khama banished from Bangwato Reserve, Tshekedi Khama suspended. Moeng College opened, built by Gammangwato communities under Kgosi Tshekedi Khama.

1950 - The multiracial Joint Advisory Council established. Seepapitso II Secondary School opened, founded by Bangwaketse under Kgosi Bathoen II. Its first (acting) Headteacher was Ketumile Masire(later Botswana president).

1951 - Mochudi (later Molefi II) School opened. 1952 - At Serowe, three police officers killed in protest against Seretse’s banishment.

1954 - Abattoir opened in Lobatse. Wayeyi separatist movement gains support in Ngamiland.

1956 - Seretse Khama returns to Botswana. Kgari Sechele Secondary School opened in Molepolole. 1957 - Elected local councils introduced.

1958 – Seretse Khama speaks out against the Protectorate’s potential incorporation into Central Africa Federation; calls on Batswana to take control of their own destiny.

1959 - Leetile Raditladi establishes the Federal Party. Tshekedi Khama and Roan Selection Trust create Bamangwato Concessions Limited (BCL) to exploit copper deposits.

1960 - Bechuanaland People’s Party (BPP) founded. Seretse Khama hosts Oliver Tambo in Serowe.

1961- First meeting of the Legislative Council. Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP) founded.

1962 - BPP splits. Philip Matante and K.T. Motsete attack Motsamai Mpho and “ANC influence” in Botswana. Mandela passes through Botswana meets K.T. Motsete and Seretse Khama amongst others. Moeding opened by what is now the UCCSA church.

The school was established after “Old Moeding”, i.e. Tiger Kloof near Vryburg, was closed by the Apartheid regime. Death of Kgari Sechele results in dispute over Bogosi. Palapye residents block train carrying ANC and SWAPO detainees, including Thabo Mbeki, from Rhodesia to South Africa. ANC convenes its first external Congress at Lobatse.

1963 - Constitutional talks in Lobatse lead to agreement based on one-person-one-vote Constitution. Swaneng Hill School established by Serowe community led by Patrick Van Rensburg. Mater Spei College in Francistown begins as additional classes at our Lady of the Desert primary. Linchwe II installed as Kgosi of Bakgatla bagaKgafela.

1964 – Census and voter education carried out to prepare ground for one-person-one-vote national ballot. Construction of new capital at Gaborone.

1965 - BDP wins by a landslide in first National Assembly election. Self-Rule begins with Seretse Khama as Prime Minister. National Development Bank established.

Patrick Van Rensburg launches the Serowe Brigade. Radio Bechuanaland begins operation. Botswana National Front (BNF) founded. Kgosi Mokgosi III of Balete dies. Gaborone Secondary School opens its doors as the first and only Government secondary school ever built during the British Protectorate era.

1966 - 30 September: Independence, Seretse Khama sworn in as Botswana’s first President. October: Botswana admitted to the United Nations as its 120th member. December: Z.K. Mathews, Botswana’s first ambassador to the United States (US) and the United Nations, arrives in the US.