Botswana Pula

The local currency is called the Pula, which means “rain.” The pula is divided into 100 thebe (“drops”). There are 5, 10, 25, and 50 thebe coins and 1, 2, and 5 pula coins, plus 10, 20, 50, and 100 Pula notes. In June 2003, the exchange rate was Pula 5.0 to one U.S. dollar. The Pula is freely convertible and its rate of exchange fluctuates on the open market. ...

Botswana’s population is estimated at 1.7 million, and is growing at 2.3 percent per annum according to government figures in the 2000 Annual Economic Report. This number is subject to significant revision, however, given the dramatic change in population growth rates due to HIV/AIDS. Approximately 35.4 percent of Batswana adults are HIV positive and life expectancy has dropped from 67 to 39 years of age. A 2001 population projection indicated that although Botswana’s population would continue to grow, it would be up to 29% smaller than it would be without AIDS. ... [Read More]

Botswana

The San, who now chiefly inhabit the Kalahari Desert, are the earliest known inhabitants of the country. They were linguistically, culturally, and often morphologically distinct from the rest of the population; however, they were not a homogenous group. The San remained economically and politically marginalized, have lost access to their traditional land in fertile regions of the country, and were vulnerable to exploitation by their non-San neighbors. Their isolation, ignorance of civil rights, and lack of political representation have stymied their progress. The estimated 52,000 to 65,000 San represented approximately 3 percent of the country's population. Although the San traditionally were hunter-gatherers, most employed San worked as agricultural laborers on cattle ranches that belonged to other ethnic groups. During the year, a substantial proportion of the San resided in government-created Remote Area Dweller settlements and subsisted on government social welfare benefits. ... [Read More]

Botswana

The Prisons Act grants relatives, lawyers, magistrates, and church organizations the right to visit prisoners for "rehabilitative purposes;" however, the Commissioner of Prisons has the authority to decide whether domestic and international human rights organizations may visit. Independent monitoring of prison conditions by human rights groups, the media, or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) generally was allowed if these organizations sought permission from the Commissioner of Prisons; however, sometimes permission was denied. The BCHR was denied access to visit Lehlohonolo Bernard Kobedi, a Lesotho national sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer, following the organization's criticism of the executions of four convicted murderers (see Section 1.a.). The ICRC visited some prisons in September. d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile The Constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and ... [Read More]

U.S. Embassy Donates HIV/AIDS Books to NACA - "Gaborone Botswana"

The collection consists of 48 titles that cover various HIV/AIDS issues ranging from hospice care, stories of encouragement, caregivers and behavior change. The books are very readable. Most suit the information needs of those dealing at the grass-roots level of the HIV/AIDS crisis, although serious researchers would also benefit from the collections. The book collection is worth approximately Pula 6,000. The U.S. Embassy anticipates that these informative books will help in the education of those people who deal with the HIV/AIDS crisis. ... [Read More]

Botswana

The country has a total area of 224,710 square miles, and its population is approximately 1.8 million. An estimated one-half of the country's citizens identify themselves as Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa—-formerly the London Missionary Society—-claim the majority of Christians. There are also congregations of Lutherans, Roman Catholics, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, the Dutch Reformed Church, Mennonites, and other Christian denominations. Most other citizens adhere to traditional indigenous religions or to a mixture of religions. In recent years, the number of new religious groups, some of West African origin, has increased; these churches have begun holding services and drawing substantial crowds with a charismatic blend of Christianity and traditional indigenous religions. There is a small Muslim com ... [Read More]

Botswana (07/05)

Botswana's currency--the Pula--is fully convertible and is valued against a basket of currencies heavily weighted toward the South African Rand. Profits and direct investment can be repatriated without restriction from Botswana. The Botswana Government eliminated all exchange controls in 1999. The Central Bank devalued the Pula by 12.5% in May 2005 in a bid to maintain export competitiveness against the real appreciation of the Pula and restructured the exchange rate mechanism to a crawling peg system to ensure against future large-scale devaluations. ... [Read More]

Passport Information - "Gaborone Botswana"

Passport applicants in Botswana should submit their documents in person at the consular section during regular American Citizen Services hours, Monday through Friday. Payment is accepted by credit card, in U.S. dollars, or in pula at the prevailing exchange rate. For other passport information, downloadable application forms, locations to conveniently apply, a list of all Regional Passport Agencies, and a wealth of other passport and travel information, customers may visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at www.travel.state.gov Customers may also call the National Passport Information Center at 1-900-225-5674 or, with a major credit card, at 1-888-362-8668. ... [Read More]

April 18 Handover Ceremony for Christmas in April A Toy and Clothing Drive for the Children of Botswana Sponsored by Barclays Bank of Botswana Ltd. and the Embassy of the United States of America - "Gaborone Botswana"

1The purpose of the drive, which was launched on March 7, was to collect new and gently used clothing and toys to be donated to needy children throughout Botswana. Donations were placed in specially marked bins at Barclays bank branches in Botswana, the American Embassy and seven participating primary and secondary schools in Gaborone. The schools that participated were Camp Primary School, Gaborone Senior Secondary School, Legae Academy, Thornhill Primary School, Maru-a-Pula Secondary School, Westwood International School and Northside Primary School. ... [Read More]

How To Apply - "Gaborone Botswana"

One hundred dollars (US$100 or the equivalent in pula) is charged for every visa application. There is an additional fee for some nationals if they are issued a visa following their interview. Payment must be in cash, US dollars or pula. No checks are accepted. ... [Read More]

Ambassador's Speeches - "Gaborone Botswana"

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