Botswana

The struggle

Bechuanaland became a British protectorate in 1885 after three Tswana kings travelled to London to avoid absorption by Rhodes's company or by South Africa. Britain invested almost nothing, and the territory was administered from outside its own borders until 1965. Independence came on 30 September 1966, months before diamonds were found at Orapa.

Key people

• Khama III

  1837–1923

  Travelled to London in 1895 to secure protection from Rhodes

• Seretse Khama

  1921–1980

  Led the BDP; first president

• Quett Masire

  1925–2017

  Co-founded the BDP and shaped independence policy