Botswana: Government#
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's major ethnic group |
|---|---|
| Government type | parliamentary republic |
| Capital | Gaborone
Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions | 10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town* |
| Independence | 30 September 1966 (from the UK) |
| National holiday | Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966) |
| Constitution | previous 1960 (preindependence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966; amended several times, last in 2006 (2016) |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mokgweetsi Eric MASISI (since 12 November 2014); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mokgweetsi Eric MASISI (since 12 November 2014) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019); vice president appointed by the president election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 4 nominated by the president and indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the rest of the National Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the president and attorney general; elected members serve 5-year terms); note - the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members - 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president; the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments elections: National Assembly elections last held on 24 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2019) election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 46.5%, UDC 30.0%, BCP 20.4%, independent 3.1%; seats by party - BDP 37, UDC 17, BCP 3 |
| Judicial branch | highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court |
| Political parties and leaders | Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM (Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO) Botswana Congress Party or BCP (Dumelang SALESHANDO) Botswana Democratic Party or BDP (Ian KHAMA) Botswana Movement for Democracy or BMD (Ndaba GAOLATLHE) Botswana National Front or BNF (Duma BOKO) Botswana Peoples Party or BPP (Motlatsi MOLAPISI) Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (Duma BOKO) (includes BMD, BPP, and BNF) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites)other: diamond mining companies |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador David John NEWMAN (since 3 August 2015) chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (1) (202) 244-4990 FAX: (1) (202) 244-4164 consulate(s) general: Atlanta |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Earl R. MILLER (since 30 January 2015) embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: (267) 395-3982 FAX: (267) 318-0232 |
| Flag description | light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony |
| National symbol(s) | zebra; national colors: blue, white, black |
| National anthem | name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE note: adopted 1966 |