How Botswana became independent

How Botswana became independent

  • The British rule become liberal and African chiefs were given the right to govern their people with little interference from the cape.




  • The process to political independence was slow because Botswana had separate seven chiefs with faire political power.
  • The process started with the coming to power of 21 year Old Tshekedi in 1826 as a regent to a four year old Seretse Khama successor of Sekgoma.
  • In 1830s Tshekedi successfully fought against the joining of Botswana into the union of South Africa.
  • During the rule (regency) of Tshekedi, there was a growing criticism of the British government.For example about the mining agreements.
  • Early in the 1920s the African and the European advisory council were formed and began to meet at least once a year.




  • In 1950s the two councils formed a joint advisory council which was a big step towards the independence of Botswana.
  • In 1961, the joint advisory council was recognized as a legislative council and given the right to pass laws.
  • The members of the legislative council were to be chosen by election a factor that give raise to the growth of political parties including theDemocratic Partyof Seretse.
  • The internal self -government was first given to Botswana land people by the 1965 constitution.
  • In 1965 , the elected assembly had 31 members and in the first election Seretse’s Democratic Party won 28 of the 31 seats
  • Seretse asked the British to give independence to Bechuanaland. The following year independence was given to Botswana.




  • On 30th September 1966, Bechuanaland became the republic of Botswana and Sir Seretse Khama as its first president.

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