Government & politics — Botswana
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Botswana: Republic of Botswana
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Republic of Botswana
- Country Name
Botswana
- Local - Long
Republic of Botswana
- Local - Short
Botswana
- Former Name
Bechuanaland
- Etymology- history of name
the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana" - referring to the country's largest ethnic group
- Independence
30 September 1966 (from the UK)
- National Holiday
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Political system
- Government Type
parliamentary republic
- Constitution
- history: previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965,
- effective 30 September 1966 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic; amended several times, last in 2021
- Legal System:
mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model and also customary and common law
- Executive Branch:
- chief of state: P
- Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 October 2024 (next to be held in October 2029);
- vice president appointed by the president election results: National elections held in 2024 gave BOKO's UDC 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as President
- Legislative Branch:
- legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of
Elections
- full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 10/30/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36)
- Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15)
- Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5)
- Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4)
- Other (1) percentage of women in chamber: 8.7% expected date of next election: October 2029
Note
- the House of Chiefs (Ntlo ya Dikgosi), an advisory body to the National Assembly, consists of 35 members -- 8 hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes, 22 indirectly elected by the chiefs, and 5 appointed by the president
- the House of Chiefs consults on issues including powers of chiefs, customary courts, customary law, tribal property, and constitutional amendments
- Judicial Branch:
- highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as pre
- scribed by the Parliament) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission;
- all judges appointed to serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court
- Regions or States:
10 districts and 6 town councils* Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Alliance of Progressives or AP [Ndaba GAOLATHE]
- Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Dumelang SALESHANDO]
- Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Mokgweetsi MASISI]
- Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]
- Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF [Mephato REATILE]
- Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [Motlatsi MOLAPISI]
- Botswana Republic Party or BRP [Biggie BUTALE]
- Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC [Duma BOKO] (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)
- Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship Criteria:
- no citizenship by descent only: at least one par
- no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Gaborone
- Capital - geographic coordinate
24 38 S, 25 54 E
- Capital Time Difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- International Law Organization Participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
chief of mission
Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023) embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170
telephone
[267] 395-3982
FAX
[267] 318-0232
Email address and website
- ConsularGaborone@state.gov
- https://bw.usembassy.gov/
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
chief of mission
Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)
chancery
1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 244-4990
FAX
[1] (202) 244-4164
Email address and website
- info@botswanaembassy.org
- http://www.botswanaembassy.org/