Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1966, the country - now called the Republic of Botswana - was granted full independen-
ce.
In contrast to the situation in so many other newly independent African states, Seretse
Khama wisely steered Botswana through its first 14 years of independence. He guaranteed
continued freehold over land held by white ranchers, and adopted a strictly neutral stance
(at least until near the end of his presidency) towards South Africa and Rhodesia. The
reason, of course, was Botswana's economic dependence on the giant to the south, but,
that said, Khama refused to exchange ambassadors with South Africa and officially disap-
proved of apartheid in international circles.
Modern Politics
Sir Seretse Khama died in 1980 (not long after Zimbabwean independence), but his Bot-
swana Democratic Party (BDP), formerly the Bechuanaland Democratic Party, continues
to command a substantial majority in the Botswana parliament. Sir Ketumile 'Quett'
Masire, who succeeded Khama as president from 1980 to 1998, followed the path laid
down by his predecessor and continued to cautiously follow pro-Western policies.
Festus Mogae handed over the presidency to vice-president Ian Khama (son of Sir Ser-
etse Khama) on 1 April 2008, and in the same year he won the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Pr-
ize for African Leadership, a US$5 million windfall aimed in part at rewarding good gov-
ernance and those African leaders who voluntarily relinquish the reins of power. Whatever
the international community thought of Mogae, his decision to make Khama president
generated concern at home as Khama had not yet been elected as president. Since assum-
ing power, Khama has cracked down on drinking, demanding earlier curfews at bars
(sometimes enforced, sometimes not). In addition, Khama, a former commander of the
Botswana Defence Force, has appointed military and law enforcement colleagues to gov-
ernment posts traditionally held by civilians, which has caused some concern in civil soci-
ety. Nonetheless, the BDP with Khama at the helm easily won elections in October 2009.
DIAMONDS: A COUNTRY'S BEST FRIEND
In the 1960s Botswana ranked as one of the world's poorest countries, with GDP per capita at less than US$200.
Educational facilities were minimal, with less than 2% of the population having completed primary school and
fewer than 100 students enrolled in university. In the entire country there was only one, 12km-long, sealed road.
Then, in 1967, everything changed with the discovery of diamonds at Orapa. Two other major mines followed
at Letlhakane in 1977 and Jwaneng in 1982, making Botswana the world's leading producer of gem-quality stones
