1%, Basarwa 3%,
other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%

Languages: English (official), Setswana

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 69.8%

male: 80.5%

female: 59.9% (1995 est.)

Botswana Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Botswana

conventional short form: Botswana

former: Bechuanaland

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital: Gaborone

Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;
Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi,
Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*,
South-East, Southern

Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)

Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law;
judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1
April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July
1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government

head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and
Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held
NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president

election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 54.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs
of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three
members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44
seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4
appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)

elections: National Assembly elections last held 16 October 1999
(next to be held NA October 2004)

election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 57.2%, BNF 26%,
other 16.8%; seats by party - BDP 33, BNF 6, other 1

Judicial branch: High Court