The Countries of Africa in the 20th Century *~ .::Botswana::. ~*

Timeline

1885 – British Protectorate is declared

1950 - Chief of the Ngwato, Seretse Khama, is exiled by the British.

1952 - Rioters protest at Seretse Khama's exile.

1959 - Copper mines are first established

1960 - Bechuanaland People's Party is established.

1962 - Seretse Khama founds Bechuanaland Democratic Party

1966 - Bechuanaland is granted independence and changes its’ name to the Republic of Botswana

1967 - Diamonds discovered at Orapa.

1977 - Defense Force is established.

1991 - 12,000 sector workers are fired after strike action calling for increased wages.

1995 - Government begins relocating thousands of Bushmen.

1997 - Presidency is limited to two five-year terms. Voting age lowered from 21 to 18.

1999 - Six-day state of emergency declared to resolve voter registration problem.

2000 – Floods leave more than 60,000 people homeless.