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 Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024) 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 31 October 2024 (next to be held in October 2029); vice president appointed by the president election results: National elections held in 2024 gave BOKO's UDC 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO 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:	legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/30/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 8.7% expected date of next election: October 2029 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
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 Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024) 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/
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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