PEOPLE AND
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 1880s. Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers
under tribal rule.
In the late 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 Batswana, 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.
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