<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 10 districts; Central, Chobe, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Ngamiland, North-East, South-East, Southern; in addition, there are 4 town councils—Francistown, Gaborone, Lobaste, Selebi-Phikwe
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 30 September 1966 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 21 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> President Sir Ketumile MASIRE (since 13 July 1980); Vice President Festus MOGAE (since 9 March 1992); election last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results—President Sir Ketumile MASIRE was reelected by the National Assembly
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>House of Chiefs:</hi> is a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of chiefs of the 8 principal tribes, 4 elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the other 12
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly:</hi> elections last held 7 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(38 total of which 34 are elected and 4 are appointed) BDP 31, BNF 3, unfilled seats pending new elections 4
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> High Court, Court of Appeal
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Sir Ketumile MASIRE; Botswana National Front (BNF), Kenneth KOMA; Botswana People's Party (BPP), Knight MARIPE; Botswana Independence Party (BIP), Motsamai MPHO