Political Overview
Botswana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 30 September 1966 and has since become Africa’s longest uninterrupted democracy under a single constitution. It operates as a multiparty parliamentary republic in which the President indirectly elected by the National Assembly serves as both head of state and government for renewable five‐year terms From independence until 2024, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) held uninterrupted power, but in a historic peaceful transition the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change led by Duma Boko secured a parliamentary majority, ending 58 years of BDP rule. Despite its reputation for political stability and strong human rights records, observers note ongoing concerns about executive influence over the legislature, limitations on media freedom, and the effects of long‐term single‐party dominance.
Cultural Heritage And Identity
Approximately 79 percent of Botswana’s population are ethnic Tswana, whose communal gatherings known as kgotlas, traditional music and folk dances embody “Botho,” a philosophy of humaneness and communal responsibility at the heart of national identity. Setswana functions as the national language and is spoken by the majority, while English remains the official language of government and commerce; alongside these, over 20 minority languages reflect the country’s rich linguistic tapestry. Botswana safeguards its cultural legacy through multiple UNESCO recognitions from the rock‐art heritage of Tsodilo Hills inscribed in 2001 to the natural marvel of the Okavango Delta in 2014 and celebrates intangible elements such as Dikopelo folk music (2017), Seperu folk dance (2019) and the Wosana ritual (2024)
Geographical Landscape And Climate
Spanning about 581 730 km², Botswana is landlocked in Southern Africa, bordered by Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and a brief frontier with Zambia; its flat to gently undulating terrain is dominated by the sandy expanses of the central and southwestern Kalahari Desert In the northwest, the Okavango Delta forms one of the world’s largest inland wetlands, inundating seasonally typically from December to March and creating a haven for elephants, hippos and hundreds of bird species, while underpinning a flourishing ecotourism sector Botswana’s climate is predominantly subtropical and semi‐arid, with most rainfall delivered as intense summer downpours between November and March, annual totals ranging from over 600 mm in the northeast to under 300 mm in the southwest, and a dry, windy season from April to October marked by dust‐laden winds from the Kalahari
