Botswana

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are Batswana, regardless of ethnicity. It is bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The British Government on March 31, 1885 put "Bechuanaland" under its protection. The northern territory remained under direct administration as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and is today's Botswana, while the southern territory became part of the Cape Colony and is now part of the northwest province of South Africa. Bechuanaland stamps were also used in Bechuanaland Protectorate until 1897.

Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on September 30, 1966.

The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is dominated by mining, especially diamonds, tourism, and cattle.