Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana (
Tswana
:
Lefatshe la Botswana
), is a
landlocked
nation in
Southern Africa
. Citizens of Botswana are Batswana (singular: Motswana), regardless of ethnicity. Formerly the
British
protectorate
of
Bechuanaland
, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the
Commonwealth
on
September
,
. It is bordered by
South Africa
to the south and southeast,
Namibia
to the west,
Zambia
to the north, and
Zimbabwe
to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, is dominated by mining (especially diamonds), tourism, and cattle. |