by
ALAINA V.

NATIONAL FLAG OF BOTSWANA

LOCATION:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BOTSWANA

            The European nation that colonized Botswana was Great Britain. They treated the people of Botswana fairly nicely. They had stepped in to colonize Botswana because they were protecting them from the Boers.

            Colonization helped the people of Botswana. It helped them by giving them protection from the Boers. They protected them and taught them how to become independent. In 1966 that finally happened. Botswana gained their independence. To understand it better, the British helped to the people of Botswana as we are helping the people of Iraq. 

            On October 30 1966, Botswana became independent. They became independent by creating a political party and holding elections in 1965. By 1966 they had elected a president and now have the oldest democracy on the continent of Africa.

            Once they were independent, everything went smoothly until the diamond market dropped. Even though having their first budget deficit in sixteen years, they still remained the richest and most stable country in Africa. Their most recent issues have been unemployment resting at about 40% and about 30% live below the line of poverty. AIDS and a high and rising birthrate have also been major problems. In 2000, awful floods left 70,000 people homeless and droughts in recent years have caused abundant suffering, especially in the west.

            If this country hadn’t been colonized there’s no telling what it would be like today. First of all, the only reason it was colonized was to be protected, so if they weren’t protected then Botswana would’ve never happened because the Bushmen would’ve never become independent. Then again, there could’ve been a revolution after a while and they could’ve become independent that way. Or the most likely impossible reasoning, they could’ve had a really friendly and reasonable tyrant come in and take over.              

Works Cited

Flag and map courtesy of Microsoft Clipart Gallery.

Info Please. www.infoplease.com

Lauré, Jason. Botswana.

Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com