LocationCentral southern Africa.
Area581,730 sq km (224,607 sq miles).
Population1.8 million (estimate 2008).
Population Density3.2 per sq km.
CapitalGaborone.
Population: 208,411 (estimate 2005).
GovernmentRepublic since 1966.
LanguageEnglish is the official language. Setswana is the national language, with minorities speaking Kalanga and Sekgalagadi.
ReligionChristianity, Roman Catholic and indigenous beliefs. There are numerous small Zionist and Apostolic
churches in rural villages, as well as United Reformed (Congregational and Methodist), Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist and Anglican churches, and predominantly expatriate Muslim, Quaker, Hindu and Bahai congregations in major towns.
TimeGMT + 2.
Electricity220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. 15- and 13-amp plug sockets are in use. Plugs used are British-style with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade, or South African/Indian-style with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin.
Head of StatePresident Festus Gontebanye Mogae since 1998.
Recent HistoryThe Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has dominated the country's politics since it gained independence. At the most recent general election, in 2004, Festus Mogae won a new five-year term by a landslide majority. He retired in 2008, handing over to his vice-president, Ian Khama. The main opposition party is the Botswana National Front (BNF).
Botswana has benefited both politically and economically from the advent of democratic government in South Africa. The government's main domestic priority is to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic; it also has to deal with thousands of refugees from neighboring Zimbabwe, and the controversial issue of land rights for indigenous Bushmen.
TelephoneCountry code: 267. There are very few public phone boxes.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is average.
InternetAvailable in large cities and resorts.
MediaThere are claims that there are government limits on ability to broadcast freely but, overall, Botswana welcomes public debate and freedom of expression, as its constitution dictates. State-run television did not appear until 2000 and radio still has more dominance as a medium. Printed media are mostly limited to major cities and towns.
PostThere are post offices in all towns and the larger villages. Airmail service to Europe takes from one to three weeks.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0815-1245 and 1400-1600; Sat 0800-1100.
Press• The daily newspaper is the
Dikgang tsa Gompieno (
Daily News), published in Setswana and English.
• Other English-language newspapers include
The Botswana Gazette (website:
www.gazettebw.com),
The Botswana Guardian (website:
www.botswanaguardian.co.bw),
The Midweek Sun (website:
www.midweeksun.co.bw) and
Mmegi (website:
www.mmegi.bw).
Radio• Radio Botswana (89.9FM) is state run and broadcasts in both English and Setswana; it also operates commercial
Radio Botswana 2 (103.0FM).
• Gabz FM and
Ya Rona FM (106.6FM) are both privately run.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
1 Jan New Year.
10-13 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
21 May Ascension Day.
1 Jul Sir Seretse Khama Day.
15-16 Jul President's Day.
30 Sep Botswana Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.
2010
1 Jan New Year.
2-5 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day
13 May Ascension Day.
1 Jul Sir Seretse Khama Day.
19-20 Jul President's Day.
30 Sep Botswana Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.
Contact Information:Botswana Tourism BoardPlot 50676, Block B, Ground Floor, Fairgrounds Office Park, Gaborone, Botswana
Postal address: P/Bag 0047, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 395 3024
or 391 3111.
Website:
www.botswanatourism.co.bw Botswana High Commission in the UK6 Stratford Place, London W1C 1AY, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 0031
or 7647 1000
or 09065 508 954 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in the USA1531-33 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 244 4990.
Website:
www.botswanaembassy.org
Next Page »
