2. What is the Geography of Botswana?
Area sq. mi: 224,607
Annual Rainfall: 10-40 in. of rain.
Range of Elevation: 513 - 1,489 meters.
Population Per sq. mi: 0-50 per square mile.
Population: 2,098,018 people.
3. Languages Spoken
• Although English is the official language of
government and education, most people
speak their own languages such as
Tjikalanga, and Bantu related languages.
• Languages in print include
English, Setswana, and Ikalanga.
4. Botswana's History
• In the early 1500s, Tswana ethnic groups moved into Botswana from the southeast.
• In the mid-1700s Ethnic disputes left Tswana chiefdoms which made them
vulnerable to invasions by refugee armies from Zulu wars in Natal (now in South
Africa).
• Also in the mid-1700s, many Tswana chiefs allowed Christian missionaries access to
their people. This opened the interior of Africa to exploitation by European hunters
and slave traders.
• However, ”Boer” (white settlers of primarily Dutch descent) encroachment from
1852 onward led major Tswana chiefs, under the direction of Khama III, to seek
protection through the British government.
• In the 20th century, unrest in the Rhodesias (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) and
apartheid in South Africa led various groups to form political parties and demand
independence from Britain.
• The Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP) led the way to independence from the
British government in 1966.
• The founders of the BDP, Sir SeretseKhama and Sir KetumileMasire, were declared
president and vice of the new Republic of Botswana.
5. Current Conflicts in Botswana
Botswana has problems with their beef industry. Farmer are angry that it’s
too expensive to transport their cattle to the nearest abattoir (butchery).
This is a huge problem for my country because beef producers can’t sell as
much meat as they could. This could lead to increased prices for meat
products so beef producers can make money. Also, this can also cause an
ecological drop because meat consumers won’t be able to afford meat.
6. What are the Solutions that can be
made?
We can fix these problems by asking Madagascar for money. In
return, I will give Madacascar HIV/AIDS medication, because I receive
HIV/AIDS medication for free. With the money donated by Madagascar, I will
buy the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), the cause of the beef industry
monopoly, so I can pay meat producers properly.
7. Final Thoughts of the Problem
This seems to be the only solution to the BMC monopoly, but I’m not sure if
the BMC will accept my offer. If this doesn’t work I’d like the ask other
international countries to help form a better Meat Commission in Botswana.
Instead of buying the BMC, I can form a new Meat Commission for my country,
Botswana.