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Botswana Government

What is the capital of Botswana?

Country Name Botswana
Full Country Name Republic of Botswana
Local - Long Republic of Botswana
Local - Short Botswana
Former Name Bechuanaland
Etymology- history of name the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's largest ethnic group
Government Type parliamentary republic
Capital Name Gaborone
Capital - geographic coordinate 24 38 S, 25 54 E
Capital Time Difference UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence 30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National Holiday Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution history: previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021

Botswana Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Botswana Government and Politics

Who is the president of Botswana?

Executive Branch: chief of state: President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI (since 1 April 2018); Vice President Slumber TSOGWANE (since 4 April 2018)

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 23 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2024); vice president appointed by the president

election results: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA, who had served as president since 1 April 2008, stepped down on 1 April 2018 having completed the constitutionally mandated 10-year term limit; upon his retirement, then Vice President MASISI became president; national elections held in 2019 gave MASISI'S BPD 38 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected MASISI as President
Citizenship Criteria: 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
Legal System: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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: last held on 23 October 2019 (next to be held by October 2024)

election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52.7%, UDC 35.9%, BPF 4.4%, AP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - BDP 38, UDC 15, BPF 3, AP 1; composition as of October 2023 - men 56, women 7, percent of women 11.1%
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
Regions or States: 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*
Political Parties and Leaders: Alliance of Progressives or AP [Ndaba GAOLATHE]

Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]

Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Mokgweetsi MASISI]

Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]

Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF [Mephato REATILE]

Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]

Botswana Republic Party or BRP [Biggie BUTALE]

Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)
International Law Organization Participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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, MONUSCO, 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 Onkokame Kitso MOKAILA (since 17 September 2020)

chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990

FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

email address and website:

info@botswanaembassy.org

http://www.botswanaembassy.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta
Diplomatic Representation from US: chief of mission: Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)

embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone

mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170

telephone: [267] 395-3982

FAX: [267] 318-0232

email address and website:

ConsularGaborone@state.gov

https://bw.usembassy.gov/
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