KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1966 Population: 2,031,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$7,470 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 118 Geography Area: 582,000 sq km Coastline: none Capital: Gaborone The Republic of Botswana is a large, roughly circular, landlocked plateau in the centre of Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Parliament of Botswana Independence: 30 September 1966 Under the 1965 constitution, Botswana is a republic with an executive President chosen by the National Assembly for the concurrent five-year term. After the 2004 general election, the Assembly had 57 members directly elected by universal adult suffrage plus the President, Speaker, Attorney-General and four members nominated by the President. The 35-member Ntlo ya Dikgosi (formerly known as the House of Chiefs) advises on tribal matters; 30 of the members are elected by senior tribal authorities and five members appointed by the President. The Botswana Democratic Party has ruled that the party leadership is only to be held by any one person for two full terms. Substantive constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of the Assembly and major amendments, a national referendum. Constitutional amendments approved in April 1997 retained the system by which the President is elected by parliament but allowed the Vice-President automatically to succeed in the event of the President’s death or resignation during his term of office. It also reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. Commonwealth Governance 142 Handbook 2013/14 Local elections for the nine district councils, two city councils and four town councils are held – also on a party basis – simultaneously with general elections. Judicial system Supreme court: High Court of Botswana Ministry: Attorney-General’s Chambers The legal system comprises Roman–Dutch and customary law. The High Court of Botswana is at Lobatse, with a second division at Francistown in the north of the country, and a further division being established in Gaborone. There are magistrates’ courts in each district. Appeals are made to the Court of Appeal of Botswana. The chief justice and the President of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the President of the republic, while other judicial appointments, though made by the President, are on the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission. Customary law cases are heard by village assemblies or kgotla, which are open to all; the traditional chiefs act as court Presidents. There is also a customary court of appeal. Botswana
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