It’s in Africa, as most of you will probably know. Fewer readers may right away succeed to point it out on a map. Is it important to know anything about Botswana, many others may ask. Immensely more so than being able to distinguish between the latest SUV models I would answer them.
This article is no more than a quick and short glimpse at where Botswana stands today. It is intended as a first reference source to those who care about development trends shaping people's life anywhere in the world, it is an attempt of reporting against the grain of mainstream international news. Interesting facts and information does not need to be spectacular of sensational in order to be newsworthy. Botswana may well have never produced a flashing news headline in the international media, but still can be remarkable things to report. Land-locked and economically dominated and dwarfed by neighbouring South Africa, Botswana appears to exist as an island of tranquility in a sea of social and political turbulence. For most interested observers, a glance at the key country data provides enough information to get a first “feel” for issues of relevance for Botswana1.
Country Information
Population 1,650,000 (July 2001 est. Estimate) Area Total 600,370 km2 Area Land 585,370 km2 Coastline 0 km (Landlocked) Climate Semiarid; warm winters and hot summers Languages English (official)Setswana Currency 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe Holiday Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Boundaries: South Africa 1,840 km Namibia 1,360 km Zimbabwe 813 km
Ethnic DivisionsBotswana 95 % Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4 % White 1 %
ReligionsIndigenous beliefs 50 % Christian 50 %
Largest Cities City Population Estimated Gaborone 133,468 1991 Francistown 65,244 1991 Selebi-Phikwe 39,772 1991
People: Botswana is a fairly homogenous country, with the majority of people belonging to the politically dominant Tswana tribes: Bakgatla, Barolong, Bakwena, Bangwaketse, Bangwato, Barolong, Batlokwa and Bamalete.
History: The early history of the people of modern day Botswana can be traced back to the early Stone Age.
Economy: Agriculture supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 4% of GDP in Botswana.
Agriculture: The agriculture sector in Botswana contributes 3.4% of the GDP and employs an estimated 22.1% of the labor force.
Energy: The main indigenous energy resource in Botswana is coal.
Metals: Botswana's impressive economic record has been built on a foundation of diamond mining, with prudent fiscal policies, international financial and technical assistance, and careful foreign policy ensuring success.
Environment: As is the case for many countries in Western Africa, natural resources in Botswana are abundant.
Once one gets started, there is a surprising abundance of information to be found on the country.2 And yes, there is indeed top news that even non-Botswanians will find worth following. I myself did not know until writing this article about the land right issue that has been at the bottom of a long-standing political dispute. It turns out that after years of persecution, a tiny group of hunter gatherers in Botswana is about to be given usage rights over an area bigger than Israel or Rwanda: a remarkable democratic success.3
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