Government (Botswana)
=====================


     Long-form name:
         Republic of Botswana
     Type:
         parliamentary republic
     Capital:
         Gaborone
     Administrative divisions:
         10 districts: Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng,
         Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; note - in addition, there may
         now be 4 town councils named Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste Selebi-Pikwe
     Independence:
         30 September 1966 (from UK; formerly Bechuanaland)
     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
     National holiday:
         Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
     Executive branch:
         president, vice president, Cabinet
     Legislative branch:
         bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or House of Chiefs
         and a lower house or National Assembly
     Judicial branch:
         High Court, Court of Appeal
     Leaders:
       Chief of State and Head of Government:
         President Quett K. J. MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Peter S.
         MMUSI (since 3 January 1983)
     Political parties and leaders:
         Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Quett MASIRE; Botswana National Front
         (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Boswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana
         Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO
     Suffrage:
         universal at age 21
     Elections:
       National Assembly:
         last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent
         of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total, 34 elected) BDP 35, BNF 3
       President:
         last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - President
         Quett K. J. MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly
     Communists:
         no known Communist organization; Kenneth KOMA of BNF has long history of
         Communist contacts
     Member of:
         ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
         IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD,
         UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO
     Diplomatic representation:
         Ambassador Botsweletse Kingsley SEBELE; Chancery at Suite 7M, 3400
         International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 244-4990 or
         4991
       US:
         Ambassador Davie PASSAGE; Embassy at Gaborone (mailing address is P. O. Box
         90, Gaborone); telephone [267] 353-982; FAX [267] 356-947
     Flag:
         light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center