*Botswana, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Botswana
conventional short form:
Botswana
former:
Bechuanaland
Digraph:
BC
Type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
Gaborone
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng,
Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4 town
councils - Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to
matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National
Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Boswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE;
Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3
President:
last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - President
Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Chiefs
and a lower house or National Assembly
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Sir Ketunile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus
MOGAE (since 9 March 1992 )
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE
chancery:
Suite 7M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
*Botswana, Government
telephone:
(202) 244-4990 or 4991
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David PASSAGE
embassy:
address NA, Gaborone
mailing address:
P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone:
[267] 353-982
FAX:
[267] 356-947
Flag:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
*Botswana, Economy
Overview:
The economy has historically been based on cattle raising and crops.
Agriculture today provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population,
but produces only about 50% of food needs. The driving force behind the
rapid economic growth of the 1970s and 1980s has been the mining industry.
This sector, mostly on the strength of diamonds, has gone from generating
25% of GDP in 1980 to 50% in 1991. No other sector has experienced such
growth, especially not agriculture, which is plagued by erratic rainfall and
poor soils. The unemployment rate remains a problem at 25%. Although diamond
production was down slightly in 1992, substantial gains in coal output and
manufacturing helped boost the economy
National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $3.6 billion (FY92 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.8% (FY92 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,450 (FY92 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16.5% (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.99 billion, including capital
expenditures of $652 million (FY94)
Exports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b. 1991)
commodities:
diamonds 78%, copper and nickel 8%, meat 4%
partners:
Switzerland, UK, SACU (Southern African Customs Union)
Imports:
$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
foodstuffs, vehicles and transport equipment, textiles, petroleum products
partners:
Switzerland, SACU (Southern African Customs Union), UK, US
External debt:
$344 million (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.9% (1991); accounts for about 53% of GDP, including mining
Electricity:
220,000 kW capacity; 1,123 million kWh produced, 846 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining of diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock
processing
Agriculture:
accounts for only 5% of GDP; subsistence farming predominates; cattle
raising supports 50% of the population; must import up to of 80% of food
needs
Economic aid:
US aid, $13 million (1992); US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $257
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $1,875 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $43 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $29 million; in 1992: Norway (largest donor)
$16 million, Sweden $15.5 million, Germany $3.6 million, EC/Lome-IV $3-6
million in grants, $28.7 million in long-term projects
Currency:
1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
*Botswana, Economy
Exchange rates:
pula (P) per US$1 - 2.31 (February 1993), 2.1327 (1992), 2.0173 (1991),
1.8601 (1990), 2.0125 (1989), 1.8159 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Botswana, Communications
Railroads:
712 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
11,514 km total; 1,600 km paved; 1,700 km crushed stone or gravel, 5,177 km
improved earth, 3,037 km unimproved earth
Airports:
total:
100
usable:
87
with permanent-surface runways:
8
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
29
Telecommunications:
the small system is a combination of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and a few radio-communications stations; 26,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 7 AM, 13 FM, no TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station