From Protectorate To Republic

BAt Independence in 1966 Botswana or Bechuanaland, as it was known, was very different from now and many had written off the chances of its survival. One of the poorest countries in the world Botswana had less than 20kms of tarred road, a GDP of around 0.03 USD Billion and an uneducated workforce. To make matters worse the Union of South Africa wanted to swallow Becuanaland. ecuanaland Protectorate, which had been a British protectorate for 80 years, attained self-government in 1965 and became the Republic of Botswana on September 30, 1966. The name Botswana was derived from the eight main Tswana speaking tribes (collectively called “Batswana”) who are believed to be descendants of King Mogale who lived in the present-day Magaliesberg Mountains in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Unlike other colonies where colonialism was imposed Bechuanaland‘s celebrated Three Chiefs, Khama III of Bangwato, Sebele I of Bakwena, and Bathoen I of Bangwaketse approached the British government seeking protection from invasion by the Shona, Ndebele and the Boers of what is now South Africa in 1870. The Union of South Africa sought to annex the territory but with support of local British organisations and individuals, in 1885 Bechuanaland became a BritishProtectorate.

Prior to independence, between 1963 and 1964, a series of constitutional discussions about self-government and the constitution took place. In June 1964, the British accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana and the following year in 1965, the Government was moved from Mafikeng, South Africa, to the new capital Gaborone.

FOllowing a landslide victory by his party, the Botswana Democratic Party, of the the first general elections held in March 1965 Sir Seretse Kham became the first President of Botswana. The party won 28 of the 31 contested seats while the remaining three seats were won by the Botswana Peoples Party led by Mr. Phillip Matante.

When the founding President, Khama died in 1980 his deputy, Mr. Ketumile Masire served as Botswana’s second president until he voluntarily retired from office in 1998. Mr. Festus Mogae became third president but the first Botswana Preisdent to have limited term of office after it was fixed to a maximum of two terms.

At the end of his two terms Mogae handed leadership to the fourth President, Lt General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Mogae broke rulling party tradition by recruiting Khama for Vice President from the Botswana Defence Force instead of choosing from the party’s structure as it had been the case

Upon completion of his two terms, Ian Khama handed over to his VP and now President HE Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi.

From struggling poverty stricken country Botswana has grown in leaps and bounds. GDP per capita is expected to reach 7150.00 USD by the end of 2022, according to analysts expectations. The country is also viewed as beacon of democracy.