Botswananet

Batswana Paramount Chiefs Bathoen, Sebele and Khama “the Great”, sought British Government protection against the Boer threat in the last quarter of the 19th Century.
1885: Area North of Molopo to 22 degrees latitude, was declared a protectorate of the British Crown known as Bechuanaland.

1895: Southern part of the territory, including Mafikeng, was incorporated into the Cape Colony which is now part of South Africa, neighbouring Botswana.

1910: Cecil John Rhodes planned to incorporate the territory into the administration of his British South Africa Company. This was stalled by a protest taken to England by the Chiefs - Khama II of the Bangwato, Bathoen I of the Bangwaketse and Sebele I of the Bakwena.

1920: Union of South Africa was established, and debate on possible inclusion of Bechuanaland continued.

1950: African and European Advisory Councils were established.

1961: Joint Advisory Council of Africans and Europeans was set up.

1963: New Bechuanaland Constitution provided for Executive and Legislative Councils.

1964: Constitutional discussions which led to 1964 acceptance of proposals and revision of Constitution were held in the territory.

1966: Internal self-government was attained on March 1. Administration was transferred from Mafikeng to the new capital, Gaborone. Bechuanaland became the independant state of BOTSWANA on September 30, 1966.

1967: Discovery of one of the world’s largest diamond pipes at Orapa.

1968: Plans were underway for mining of copper-nickle matte at Selebi-Pikwe.

1974: Production begins at Selebi-Pikwe mine.

1975: The Bank of Botswana was instituted.

1976: South African Rand displaced by Botswana’s own currency; Pula 1.00 made up of 100 thebe.

1980: The first President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama, died. His Vice-President, Dr Quett Masire becamse the new President. Jwaneng Diamond mine came into full production.

1983: National Food Strategy inaugurated.

1984: The newly constructed Sir Seretse Khama International Airport was opened.

1985: South African commandos carried out a military raid into the capital-city, Gaborone, killing 12 people.

1986: Twentieth Anniversary of Independence celebrations. Gaborone attains city status.

* People settled in Botswana as early as the Fourth Century AD.The earliest inhabitants of the region, the hunter-gatherer San people, can still to be found in Botswana’s remote areas.
* Botswana was never a colony. The country’s Paramount Chiefs sought British protection to forestall Boer incorporation of the country into South Africa.
* The discovery of the rich Orapa, Letlhakane and Jwaneng diamond mines after independence, laid the foundation for Botswana’s stable economy.

SETTLEMENTS
The early history of the people and territory of Botswana is still being uncovered, as archaeologists sift evidence from legend.

Indications of settled communities go back as far as the fourth century.

Before that, the territory was sparsely populated by hunter-gatherer communities of the San people.

Major settlements took place in the early 16th century. British missionaries arrived in the 19th century.