Botswana Animal
Botswana
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Botswana strictly enforces its laws controlling the trade in animal products. The hunting of lions is explicitly prohibited and leopards and elephants are covered under a strict quota regime. Botswana's Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act makes it illegal to posses or remove from Botswana, without a government permit, any living or dead animal, or trophy made from an animal. A trophy is any horn, ivory, tooth, tusk, bone, claw, hoof, hide, skin, hair, feather, egg, or other durable portion of an animal, whether the item has been processed or not. Curio shops and vendors throughout the country sell items such as animal skins, plain and decorated ostrich eggs and eggshells, and carved bones or teeth of animals protected by this law. All of th ... [Read More]
Botswana
The economy of the country, which had a population of 1.7 million, was market oriented with strong encouragement for private enterprise through tax benefits. Approximately 32 percent of the labor force worked in the informal sector, largely subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rural poverty remained a serious problem, as did a widely skewed income distribution. From 2002 to 2003, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.7 percent, according to the Bank of Botswana. Diamond exports provided approximately 75 percent of export income, 50 percent of government revenues, and 33 percent of GDP. The high incidence of HIV/AIDS strained government finances and decreased productivity. ... [Read More]
Botswana
Botswana is a longstanding multiparty democracy. Constitutional power is shared between the President and a popularly elected National Assembly. Festus Mogae became President in 1998 and continued to lead the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has held a majority of seats in the National Assembly continuously since independence. The 1999 elections generally were regarded as free and fair, despite initial restrictions on opposition access to radio and press reports of ruling party campaign finance improprieties. The Government generally respected the constitutional provisions for an independent judiciary. The civilian Government maintained effective control of the security forces. The Botswana Defense Force, which is under the control of the Defense Council within the Office of the President, has primary responsibility for external security, although it assisted with domestic law enforce ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
To enter Botswana, all animals need a certificate issued by the Botswana Director of Veterinary Services. The Embassy will obtain a permit for official travelers, provided they inform the Embassy at least 2 months in advance. Once obtained, the Embassy will forward the permit to the traveler for attachment to the cage. A valid rabies vaccination certificate and a statement from a veterinarian stating that the animal is in good health should also accompany the pet. ... A small yacht club is located at the Gaborone Dam, where sailing and windsurfing are available. Bilharzias and crocodiles make the reservoir unsafe for swimming, however. Horseback riding and instruction are available at stables located outside of town and at very reasonable prices. The Kalahari Hash House Harriers meet every week and serious marathoners can compete in a full season of events. For those who prefer spectator sports, soccer games are held regularly at the National Stadium and on other fields. Touring and Outdoor ActivitiesLast Updated: 12/2/2003 9:47 AM Photographers, hunters, birdwatchers, and fishing enthusiasts will enjoy Botswana’s rich game and wildlife areas. Much of the country is set aside for national parks and game reserves, such as Chobe National Park, Mor ... [Read More]
Global Issues: Health Care for HIV/AIDS and other Diseases
Merck & Company, Inc., is a global, research-driven pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of human and animal health products, including antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV infection, directly and through joint ventures, and provides pharmaceutical benefit services through Merck-Medco Managed Care. ... [Read More]
AGOA Successes and Challenges in Target Sectors
At the Forum in Mauritius were concerns about difficulties in expanding fresh agricultural products to the U.S. market. After Mauritius, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has a broad legal mandate to protect domestic plant and animal food sources from the risk of disease or pests, agreed to staff each hub with a technical expert to help African countries and producers in completing pest risk assessments for African farm products. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S. Pleased with New Protections for Endangered Species
The head of the U.S. delegation to an international meeting on endangered species is pleased at newly negotiated agreements to protect certain plant and animal species from overharvesting and possible extinction. The 12-day meeting ended in Santiago, Chile, November 15. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: CITES Maintains Endangered Species Trade Bans
Nairobi, 20 April 2000 - A major two-week meeting of the 151-member Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is concluding here today after adopting decisions on how best to protect dozens of animal and plant species from being over-exploited as a result of international trade. ... CITES was adopted in 1973 is to ensure that no wild animal or plant species is unsustainably exploited because of international trade. Governments increasingly recognize that sustainable trade can contribute to the broader and mutually compatible goals of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. In addition to maintaining and strengthening its trade regime, CITES will therefore strengthen its efforts to promote management practices such as ranching and revenue-sharing incentives for local communities. ... [Read More]
Lesotho (06/05)
Lesotho's economy is based on water and electricity sold to South Africa, manufacturing, earnings from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), agriculture, livestock, and to some extent earnings of laborers employed in South Africa. Lesotho also exports diamonds, wool, and mohair. Lesotho is geographically surrounded by South Africa and economically integrated with it as well. The majority of households subsist on farming or migrant labor, primarily miners in South Africa for 3 to 9 months. The western lowlands form the main agricultural zone. Almost 50% of the population earns some income through crop cultivation or animal husbandry, with over half the country's income coming from the agricultural sector. ... [Read More]
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