BotswanaBotswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa,
roughly the size of Texas. It covers 224,607 square miles, yet contains
only 1,444,000 people, making it one the most thinly populated countries
in Africa. The eastern portion is where most people reside, because the
Kalahari Desert covers almost all the rest of the nation. Botswana's
climate is a semiarid one, consisting of very hot summers, and warm
winters. Flat and rolling land make up the topography of Botswana, with
the Kalahari in the southwest. There are several major ethnic groups
in Botswana. Most Botswanans are black Africans called Tswana, and the
largest group of the Tswana are the Bamangwato. The Bamangwato
make up almost one third of Botswana's population. The majority of the
Tswana are farmers.There are also about 10,000 of the San people, or
"Bushmen". Some San are hunter-gatherers, and some are farmers.
Several thousand whites are also included in Botswana's population.
Most are of British descent. Most whites earn more money then the
blacks, and this causes some racial tension. Although English is the
official language of Botswana, most people speak Setswana, a Bantu
language. Eighty-five percent of Botswana's people practice traditional
African religions, while the rest are Christian. Most Botswanan children
attend elementary school, but only fifteen percent will go on to high
school. The small percent of people that go to college attend the
University of Botswana in Gaborone, the nation's capital. Great Britain
once had control over Botswana. South Africa wanted Botswana, then
called Bechuanaland, as part of their country. But Great Britain refused.
On September 30,1966, Botswana was declared independent. It's official
name is The Republic of Botswana. Seretse Khama became the nation's
first president. Some of Botswana's chief resources are
diamonds,copper,nickel, and salt. The economy of Botswana was based
on cattle and crop raising, but now diamond mining is controlling the
economy, despite a 25 percent unemployment rate due to slow diamond
sales in 1994. In 1994, Botswana made 1.8 billion dollars in exports of
diamonds,copper, nickel, and meat. Botswana has it's own currency: the
pula. One pula is equal to about 1.8 U.S. dollars. Botswana is run by
a parliamentary republic that includes judicial, legislative, and executive
branches.You must be twenty-one years old to vote. Today, Botswana's
most pressing problems have to do with disputes between Namibia and
Zambia over a small section of the border. Also, the twenty-five percent
unemployment rate must be lowered. In conclusion, Botswana is a
country that has come a long way, yet still has a long way to go. Like
every other country, it has it's problems, but Botswana would be a nice
place to visit.
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University of Botswana in Gaborone, the nation's capital. Great Britain
once had control over Botswana. South Africa wanted Botswana, then
called. nation. Botswana& apos;s
climate is a semiarid one, consisting of very hot summers, and warm
winters. Flat and rolling land make up the topography of Botswana,