The Government of Botswana - The World Countries

Botswana - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Botswana, it was the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's largest ethnic group. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 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*

National symbols

Zebra; national colors: light blue, white, black.

The flag

The National flag of Botswana has light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony.

The National Anthem

Title	"Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
Lyric/music	Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE

note: adopted 1966

More about the government of Botswana

Constitution
Date of Independence	30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Legal system	mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Citizenship
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
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI (since 1 April 2018)
Head of government	President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI (since 1 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
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral Parliament consists of the National Assembly (65 seats; 58 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 5 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 vice president of Botswana ; 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- men 56, women 7, percentage 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
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	[email protected] http://www.botswanaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the 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	[email protected] https://bw.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)