Thursday, August 20, 2009

10 Facts about Botswana

I thought I'd answer a few commonly asked questions by making a list of 10 interesting facts about Botswana you may or may not know.

1. Setswana is the language and culture. Batswana is the word used for many citizens of Botswana. One citizen is a motswana.

2. Botswana currently has a population of just over 1.8 million people. The country is about the size of France or Texas.

3. The majority of the people live on the eastern side of the country.

4. Most of the diamonds in the country are mined by Debswana- a company in which DeBeers owns 50% of the shares and the Government of Botswana owns 50% of the shares.

5. Jwaneng Diamond Mine, in the south of the country, is the richest diamond mine in the world.

6. Botswana was never actually been colonised. It was a protectorate of Britain only after three chiefs from Botswana travelled to England to request such an arrangement.

7. 17% of Botswana has been set aside as game reserves and parks more than the internationally recommended 10%.

8. The capital is Gaborone. Pronounced Ha-bo-ro-nee.

9. The kgotla system is entrenched in Setswana culture and is based on a system of democracy and free speech were every person in attendance has the right to speak their mind.

10. The current president is President Ian Khama. He is the son to the first president of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama. His mother was a white British woman. President Ian Khama is also paramount chief of the largest tribe in the country the Bamangwato.
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Are you interested in learning more about Botswana? Consider purchasing Lauri's short story collection (ebook) In the Spirit of McPhineas Lata and Other Stories, all stories set in Botswana. You can buy it at Amazon HERE

8 comments:

Miss Footloose said...

Thank you! I like knowing these facts about Botswana, and getting them in such an easy form is great. I hope to visit some time, which is not an unrealistic wish for me at all ;)

www.lifeintheexpatlane.blogspot.com

Lauri said...

Please pass by when you visit! :)

Euri said...

I learned a lot. Very interesting!

Anonymous said...

the leader of botswana is festus mogae

Tlotlo Moagi said...

annonymous,Sir Seretse KhamaIian Khama has been president of the Republic of Botswana since I April 2008, he took over from Festus Gontebanye Mogae, who was president for 10 years from 1998 t0 2008

erms1047 said...

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

Anonymous said...

you help alot for my project for botswana

JBsfavoritegirl11 said...

Thanks! I needed this for my school report!