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 major 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 (preindependence); 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 a 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 require approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2006

Botswana Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Botswana Government and Politics

Who is the president of Botswana?

Executive Branch:	Chief of State: President Mokgweetse Eric 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 Mokgweetse Eric 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 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 on 31 October 2019); vice president appointed by the president Election Results: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (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 on 23 October 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:	A 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 in 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 - NA
Judicial Branch:	Highest Court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consist 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:	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 GAOLATHE] Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO] Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI] Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (coalition includes BMD, BPP, BCP, and BNF)
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, 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 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

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