Honorary Consulates

Term: 1 April 2018 - 1 Nov. 2024

Term: 1 April 2008 - 1 April 2018

Term: 1 April 1998 - 1 April 2008

Term: 18 July 1980 - 31 March 1998

Term:30 September 1966 - 13 July 1980

Founding President

• 1885: To protect local Tswana leaders from Boer expansion and German South-West Africa (Namibia), Britain declared the area a British Protectorate, known as Bechuanaland.
• Unlike other African colonies, Bechuanaland was not heavily exploited or settled by Europeans. It was mostly ruled through indirect rule, allowing local chiefs to retain authority under British oversight.
• The capital was set up in Mafikeng (now in South Africa) until independence.

• Ancient Inhabitants: The earliest known people in Botswana were the San (Basarwa or Bushmen), a hunter-gatherer society known for their rock art and deep knowledge of the land.
• Bantu Migration: Around 500-1000 AD, Bantu-speaking groups, particularly the Tswana, migrated into the region. They introduced ironworking, cattle herding, and settled agriculture.
• Over time, various Tswana chiefdoms emerged, such as the Bangwato, Bakwena, and Bamangwato, which became powerful in the region.

• 1800s: European missionaries and traders began arriving. One notable figure was David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary-explorer who worked in the region in the mid-19th century.
• As European influence grew, internal conflicts and external threats-especially from Boer settlers and Ndebele raiders-caused political tension.

• Seretse Khama, heir to the Bamangwato chieftaincy, married a white British woman, Ruth Williams, in 1948. This caused a scandal both in the UK and Southern Africa, leading to his exile.
• Over time, Seretse Khama became a symbol of resistance and a leader in the movement for independence.
• In 1962, he founded the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
• 1966: Botswana gained full independence from Britain on September 30, 1966, with Seretse Khama as its former President.

• At independence, Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa, with few paved roads and little infrastructure.
• However, after the discovery of diamonds in 1967, Botswana rapidly grew its economy.
• Botswana became a model of democracy, anti-corruption, and good governance in Africa.
• Seretse Khama was succeeded by other leaders from the BDP, including:
  • Quett Masire
  • Festus Mogae
  • Ian Khama (Seretse’s son)
  •  Former President H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masis

• Type: Parliamentary Republic
• Head of State and Government: The President
• Legislature: National Assembly (unicameral)
• Judiciary: Independent, with a High Court, Court of Appeal, and customary courts
• Constitution: Adopted in 1966 at independence

• Botswana is widely recognized as one of Africa’s most democratic and stable nations.
• It holds free and fair elections every 5 years.
• Since independence in 1966, it has never experienced a military coup or major political violence.
• Political power has changed leadership within the same ruling party but not yet between parties.
•  

• President: Both Head of State and Head of Government
  • Elected by the National Assembly after general elections
  • Serves up to two 5-year terms
• Vice President: Appointed by the President
• The President appoints ministers to run various departments (education, health, foreign affairs, etc.)
•  

• Unicameral Parliament (no upper house)
• Composed of:
  • Elected members (directly by voters)
  • A few specially appointed members
• Responsible for:
  • Making laws
  • Debating national issues
  • Approving the national budget
• Also includes the Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs) - an advisory body made up of traditional leaders (no legislative power but cultural influence)
•  

• • Courts include:
    • High Court (civil and criminal cases)
    • Court of Appeal (highest court)
    • Customary Courts (handle cases based on tribal law, especially in rural areas)

  The judiciary is generally respected and viewed as non-political and fair

1. Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
   • In power since 1966
   • Founded by Sir Seretse Khama
   • Currently led by former President Mokgweetsi Masisi
2. Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)
   • Main opposition coalition
   • Includes smaller parties like the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Congress Party (BCP), and others
   • Gaining support in recent elections
3. Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF)
   • Breakaway party founded by supporters of former President Ian Khama, now in opposition

• The Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs) is a unique institution:
  • Includes representatives of major tribes
  • Advises Parliament on issues relating to custom, culture, and land
  • Does not have the power to make or block laws

• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• One of the world’s largest inland deltas - a lush oasis in the Kalahari Desert
• Unique wetland ecosystem: seasonal floods attract massive wildlife
• Best for: Canoe safaris, luxury lodges, birdwatching, elephants, big cats, hippos, rare antelope like sitatunga
• Safari activities: Mokoro rides (dugout canoe), walking safaris, game drives

The Okavango Delta

• Located in the north, near the borders with Zimbabwe and Zambia
• Famous for its huge elephant herds (estimated over 120,000 elephants)
• Also home to lions, buffalo, giraffes, leopards, crocodiles, hippos
• Chobe Riverfront is ideal for boat safaris

One of the most accessible parks (near Kasane and Victoria Falls)

Chobe National Park

• Located in the eastern Okavango Delta
• A mosaic of habitats: forests, lagoons, floodplains, and savannah
• Big 5 game viewing, particularly strong for leopards, wild dogs, and birds
• High-end lodges and mobile camping options

Moremi Game Reserve

• One of the largest game reserves in the world (over 52,000 km²)
• Remote and wild - few tourists, pristine wilderness
• Home to black-maned Kalahari lions, oryx, springbok, brown hyenas
• Excellent for stargazing, cultural experiences with San/Basarwa guides

Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR)

• Ancient salt pans - once a giant lake
• Seasonal flooding attracts massive herds of zebra and wildebeest (Botswana’s version of a migration)
• Flamingos breed in the wet season
• Dry season offers surreal, moonlike landscapes

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

• Adjacent to Makgadikgadi
• Famous for the Baines’ Baobabs - ancient trees painted by explorer Thomas Baines
• Excellent game viewing during wet season: lions, elephants, cheetahs, antelope

Nxai Pan National Park

• Place	Why Visit
  Khutse Game Reserve	Quieter alternative to CKGR; self-drive safaris
  Mokolodi Nature Reserve	Near Gaborone; day safaris, rhino tracking
  Tsodilo Hills	UNESCO site with rock art over 20,000 years old
  Shakawe	Remote town in the northwest; near Tsodilo Hills and the Panhandle of the Okavango

• Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo, and (White/Black) Rhinoceros
• Other Iconic Species:
  • African wild dogs (highly endangered)
  • Hippos and crocodiles
  • Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest
  • Over 550 species of birds
  • Rare antelopes: Roan, Sable, Tsessebe