Botswana Notes and Records

About the Botswana Society

Fred Morton — 2023-12-26

The Serowe Riot and the Militarisation of the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police, 1952-1956

Simon Bayani — 2023-12-26

The royal conflict in the Bamangwato Reserve, which was caused by the marriage of the Bangwato
prince Seretse Khama to English woman Ruth Williams, resulted in the Bechuanaland Protectorate Po
lice’s (BPP) biggest security challenge of the late colonial era. The conflict, which would culminate in a
bloody riot in Serowe in 1952, put the efficiency of the BPP to the test. Placing the events of Serowe riot
within the broader context of African uprisings in other African colonies during the post-Second World
War period, this article argues that the Serowe riot exposed the weakness of the BPP. It is also observed
that the colonial administration and police authorities militarised the force and sanctioned a military-style
occupation of the Bamangwato Reserve or tribal territory as a precautionary measure against similar
incidents.

For Queen and Empire: British Military Assistance and Influence in Post-Colonial Botswana, 1977 1987

Bafumiki Mocheregwa — 2023-12-26

While the establishment of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 1977 was a hasty product of the
Rhodesian war (1966-1979), both the general structure and direction of this new armed force were a
British affair. Being a former colonial master with a strong army, it was not surprising to see the BDF
adopt a British military culture. However, British influence on the affairs of Botswana’s new military grew
significantly between 1977 and 1987. Using new oral and written primary sources, this paper explores the
circumstances around the establishment of the BDF and offers a critical analysis of the nature and extent
of British involvement in this period. The organic relationship between the newly formed BDF and the
British government seemed inevitable. Some could see it as a natural progression for Botswana’s new
military to seek military assistance from its former colonial master. However, the financial motivations of
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and their new programme called the United Kingdom
Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) are questionable as they fostered an over-reliance of
new militaries such as the BDF on UK funds. It was no coincidence that UKMTAS started operating in the
1960s when newly independent countries were struggling to source funds to build their new armed forces.

Water Provision, Governance and Management in Post-Colonial Botswana: Policy Development and Practice in a Semi-Arid Environment, 1966-2020

Mark Nyandoro — 2023-12-26

The continuities and policy shifts from the colonial to the post-colonial era inform the evolution of arid
Botswana’s water sector. This paper examines the major trends in Botswana’s water resource governance
from independence in 1966 to 2020. It evaluates the continuities and policy changes implemented by the
government of Botswana in that period. The country’s water sector changed from seemingly no identifiable
water policy during the colonial era to, with some exceptions, more tangible policies afterwards. The paper
argues that the colonial administration was reluctant to develop the water sector beyond the areas occupied
by white people such as Ghanzi and Tati. Therefore, post-colonial Botswana inherited a poorly developed
water distribution infrastructure with no clearly stated policies despite water’s critical function to the
future development of the country. The post-colonial era was thus characterised by significant efforts to
change water provision and governance by the independence government. The government consistently
sought to reverse and rectify the water management policies of the past for the benefit of present and future
needs. In this effort, it was complemented by strategic development partners and other stakeholders, hence
this collective effort led to transformative change for Botswana’s water sector in the post-1966 period.

Multi-Temporal Analysis of Avulsion and Channel Dynamics: A Case Study of the New Channel in the Kwando River, Botswana

Chandrasekara Naidu Kurugundla — 2023-12-26

Channel modifications and avulsions through time and space have a big impact on how streams flow and
how wetlands develop. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that cause the Kwando channel
to avulse in Botswana territory and to explain the spatiotemporal sequences that accompany this move
ment. The study, which was conducted in 2016, used Garmin-GPSMap 62S to collect the coordinates
of the split New Channel from the trans-boundary Kwando River’s west bank. By looking through the
Google Earth photographs from 1985 to 2017 on a desktop computer with the selected images from July
1985, May 2002, December 2011, December 2013, and December 2017, the multi-temporal fluctuations
in the New Channel spatial position are given and discussed. The map was created using ArcMap GIS 10.2
relying on field-tracked coordinates that are comparable to the well-defined New Channel for approxi
mately 45km. The formation of the New Channel might be linked to three factors: i) 547mm of above
average rainfall between 2004 and 2015; ii) increased inflows into the Kwando River between 2008 and
2015, and iii) the presence of paleochannels and flood plain sloughs in the system. According to analyses
of historical Kwando River flow data series, 51% of inflows in 1986–1994 travelled to Shummamorei sta
tion whereas 53% of inflows in 2017–2020 went to James Camp station on the New Channel, indicating
that a sizeable portion of Kwando River flows were diverted to the New Channel. Between 1995 and 2010,
channel blocks and aggravation forced the flow to be diverted to the Linyanti Swamp by bank spill, which
disrupted the flow pattern at Shummamorei. The New Channel has an impact on the outflow rivers, Savuti
and Selinda Canal. The New Channel is concentrated on downstream wetlands in Botswana and might
have an impact on the Linyanti Swamp region in Namibia.

Nelson Mandela’s 1962 Movements in Botswana

Jeff Ramsay — 2023-12-26

In January 1962 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela left South Africa for the first time when he crossed into Bo
tswana, then still the British administered Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP), at the Pioneer Border Gate
near Lobatse. After spending a week in Peleng Township hiding from the South African Police (SAP) he
departed by air from Lobatse airstrip for Dar-es-Salaam. Five months later, on the evening of 23 July 1862,
Mandela returned to Botswana, landing by plane in Kanye. Having only briefly stopped at Peleng, Man
dela crossed the border back into South Africa, arriving at the secret African National Congress (ANC)
headquarters at Liliesleaf farm, Rivonia on the morning of 24 July 1962.

Samora Machel’s 1963 Passage Through Botswana

Jeff Ramsay — 2023-12-26

The Samora Machel Museum in Lobatse, which was opened in April 2022, celebrates the memory of one
of Africa’s greatest freedom fighters and statesmen, while further serving as a reminder of the contributions
of the many additional patriots, from Botswana, Mozambique, and the wider region, who laid the foundations

for Southern Africa’s liberation. The peace and freedom we enjoy as a region today are a product of
their collective struggle and sacrifice against the forces of racism, fascism, and imperialist repression.

Place and Street Names in Tlokweng Over Time

Philip Moatlhodi Matsetse — 2023-12-26

Batlokwa ba Moshaweng permanently settled in Tlokweng under the leadership of Kgosi Gaborone in
the 1880s. The name Tlokweng itself signifies that it is the land of Batlokwa. Indeed, there are several
other Batlokwa villages and wards in Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho with the name Tlokweng.
These villages and wards are distinguished from each other by indicating their location, eg. Tlokweng ko
(at) Moshaweng (Gaborone), Tlokweng ko Kolontwane (Motlhaputseng), Tlokweng ko Letlhakeng, Tlok
weng kwa ga Montsana, Tlokweng ko Mokhotlong (in Lesotho), Tlokweng kwa ga Molatedi, Tlokweng
ko Ntsweng (Tlokweng ward in Mochudi) etc. The Setswana name for Potchestroom in the North West
Province of South Africa is Tlokwe indicating that Batlokwa settled in the area. The area inhabited by
Batlokwa in Limpopo Province of South Africa is referred to as Botlokwa.

The Botswana Campus of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS): 1971 Student Cohort and Subsequent Opportunity for a National University in Botswana

Motsoptse Phillip Modisi — 2023-12-26

The University of Botswana’s Undergraduate Academic Calendar, 2023/24 includes a ‘historical note’
that makes scant mention of the establishment of the Botswana Campus in 1971 (University of Botswana,
2023:11). This article is intended to fill the gap in the narrative about the initiation of the Botswana Campus
of the University of Botswana Lesotho and Swaziland (UBLS). It is written from the author’s memory as
a member of the 1971/72 cohort with input by some peers at the UBLS Botswana Campus. The Campus
formed the foundation for the establishment of the University of Botswana (UB) and its subsequent
development. These memories are augmented by content derived from published sources and unpublished
documents to provide a context and meaning to the history of UB. The UBLS Botswana Campus was
established following a decision by the Governing Council in 1970, to devolve the University and establish
a physical presence of infrastructure, buildings, staff and students to a new campus in Botswana and add to
existing facilities in Swaziland (Vernon-Jackson 1973:199). Establishing the Campus was a race against
time, and presented a host of challenges, including procuring accommodation and facilities, recruiting
staff, beginning the construction of infrastructure on a virgin site, registering and managing new students.
Although no campus premises for teaching and accommodation existed, postponing the beginning of the
1971/72 academic year was not an option. Qualified school leavers were waiting and could not miss the
academic programmes for that year. Keeping pace and maintaining established standards of programmes
at the other two campuses in Lesotho and Swaziland was imperative. The Governments of Botswana and
Swaziland demonstrated full support for the Council decision, hence the implementation in establishing the
new campus in Gaborone. The Lesotho Government, however, was a reluctant participant in the devolution
exercise (Mokgopakgosi 2013:467). All along, Lesotho had enjoyed the prestige of hosting the University
and the status of a senior campus and administrative headquarters.

Joseph Tsonope (ed.), Lenyalo: Marriage Cultures and Processes in Botswana

Tiro Sebina — 2023-12-26

Lenyalo: Marriage Cultures and Processes in Botswana: Past and Present is a collection of chapters that
delineates traditional and contemporary conventions, procedures, rituals, roles, and ceremonies pertaining
to marital unions among different ethnic groups in Botswana. The book also sheds light on how marriage
rites and formalities have changed over time, especially how marriage as an institution is buffeted by the
vagaries of modernity. The concluding section of the book offers a set of recommendations on how the
institution of marriage and the customary practices that sustain it can be recalibrated.

Mosireletsi Mokalake, State Creation, Nationalism, Nationhood and Ethnicity in Southern Africa

Bruce Bennett — 2023-12-26

This is an interesting book, clearly the result of considerable work, which puts forward a striking argument.
Work like this shows the deep interest and commitment Batswana have to their history. However, it has
significant flaws. In Africa, amateur history such as this book plays an indispensable role. However, the
book illustrates why amateur and professional historians need to work together more. There are numerous
issues with this book which could have been avoided if the author had been able to get assistance from
professionals at an early stage, allowing him to produce a stronger case. The book is well bound, and the
print is comfortable to read. However, it is badly edited and lacks an index.

Barolong Seboni, Nitty Gritty: The Book of Meanings

Tiro Sebina — 2023-12-26

Nitty Gritty-The Book of Meanings is Barolong Seboni’s latest compilation of brief satirical skits, vignettes,

rib-ticklers, poems and lists of newly minted words and jingles. The jocular collection features
a complete dictionary of Tshele (‘gossip’). Intellectual teasers, light-minded Commandments, prayers,
and laments are in the mix. Seboni’s literary credentials are secure. He is an author of more than a dozen
book publications. For more than half a century, he has consistently proven to be a productive writer. As a
writer, he has remarkable drive, staying power, versatility, and finesse. Seboni is an unassuming doyen of
Botswana literature who continues to use his ever-valid poetic licence to edify. He dedicates his humor
ous pieces to a quintet of brilliant Botswana journalists whom he honours as ‘the grandmasters of satire’
namely: Rampholo Molefhe, Paul Rantao, Kgosinkwe Moesi, Billy Chiepe and Douglas Tsiako.