HISTORY
The Batswana,
a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to
the country's major ethnic group (the "Tswana" in South
Africa), which came into the area from South Africa during the
Zulu wars of the early 1800s. Prior to European contact, the Batswana
lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.
In the
19th century, hostilities broke out between the Batswana and Boer
settlers from the Transvaal. After appeals by the Batswana for
assistance, the British Government in 1885 put "Bechuanaland"
under its protection. The northern territory remained under direct
administration and is today's Botswana, while the southern territory
became part of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest
province of South Africa; the majority of Setswana-speaking people
today live in South Africa.
Despite
South African pressure, inhabitants of the Bechuanaland Protectorate,
Basuotoland (now Lesotho), and Swaziland in 1909 asked for and
received British assurances that they would not be included in
the proposed Union of South Africa. An expansion of British central
authority and the evolution of tribal government resulted in the
1920 establishment of two advisory councils representing Africans
and Europeans. Proclamations in 1934 regularized tribal rule and
powers. A European-African advisory council was formed in 1951,
and the 1961 constitution established a consultative legislative
council.
In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for democratic self-government in Botswana. The seat of government was moved from Mafikeng, in South Africa, to newly established Gaborone in 1965. The 1965 constitution led to the first general elections and to independence in September 1966. Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant to traditional rule of the Bamangwato, was elected as the first president, re-elected twice, and died in office in 1980. The presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Ketumile Masire, who was elected in his own right in 1984 and re-elected in 1989 and 1994. Masire retired from office in 1998. The presidency passed to the sitting vice president, Festus Mogae, who was elected in his own right in 1999. Mogae won a second term in elections held October 30, 2004 and stepped down in accordance with national term limits on March 31, 2008. On April 1, 2008 former Vice President Ian Khama assumed the presidency. The next general election is expected in October 2009.
