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MODULE 4: CITIZENSHIP AND INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS

CITIZENSHIP
This means belonging and identifying oneself with a particular group. A citizen is a
person who has rights and responsibilities within a particular group. Citizenship is not
only restricted to one’s country. There are various levels of citizenship; family,
community, nation, region, continent and globe.

LEVELS OF CITIZENSHIP:

1. Family citizenship
A family is the smallest social unit to which people belong. A person can be a member
of a family through birth, marriage, adoption or assimilation. People show that they
belong to a family by using family surname and they also have certain rights and
responsibilities within their families.

Rights of family citizens

-use family surname for identification
-own property and personal belongings within the family
-leisure and rest
-participate in family activities
-inherit wealth according to accepted laws
Responsibilities of family citizens
-behave in a manner that will not destroy the image of other family members
-cooperate with other members so as to achieve common goals
-carryout duties assigned by elderly members
-respect the rights of other family members

2. Community citizenship
Individuals and groups of families make up a community. A community may refer to a
group of people who live in the same area or a group of people who have common
interests, goals and culture e.g. a school or church.

Rights of community citizens

-being treated fairly and justly
-ownership of property such as land and wells
-attend kgotla meetings and political rallies
-join organisations in their communities e.g. VDC, Crime Prevention, PTA etc.
Responsibilities of community citizens
-initiating and implementing community development activities and projects
-respecting the rights of other community citizens
-helping the poor and the less fortunate members of the community e.g. destitutes and
orphans.
-obey laws and behave in an acceptable manner
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3. National citizenship
A combination of various communities makes a nation/country. National citizenship
means being accepted and belonging to a particular country. National citizens have
certain rights and responsibilities that may vary from one country to another, for instance,
in Botswana all citizens have the right to vote, hold political office and own property. A
person’s national citizenship in Botswana can be represented by a birth certificate,
passport or an identity card.

Rights of national citizens

The rights of national citizens may vary from one country to another depending on the
form of government that is in place e.g. in a dictatorship people may not have the right to
vote or criticise the government whereas in a democratic government they have those
rights. If a country is a signatory of the 1948 UN’s Universal Declaration of Human
Rights the following rights should be enjoyed by citizens;
-right to life and security
-right to education
-freedom of expression, religion and association
-right to own family and property
-protection from forced labour and slavery
-right to privacy
-right to leisure and rest
-right to vote etc.

Responsibilities of national citizens

-serve the country with pride and dignity
-protect the welfare of the country e.g. by reporting corruption and economic crime
-pay tax when required
-defend the country from external and internal enemies
-vote in general elections and national referendum
-respect other people’s rights and freedoms
-abide by the laws stated in the constitution.

4. Continental citizens
Botswana is a country in Africa, therefore its citizens are also citizens of Africa. This
gives Botswana the right to join continental and regional organisations such as SACU,
SADC, AU etc. In addition to rights and responsibilities of national citizens, continental
citizens have the right to share information & technology and to assist each other in times
of wars and natural disasters.

5. Global Citizenship
Since all people live in the same planet this makes them global citizens. As global
citizens we are responsible for looking after our planet earth. Rights and responsibilities
of global citizens are the same as those of national and continental citizens.
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WAYS OF ACQUIRING CITIZENSHIP IN BOTSWANA

The 1998 citizenship act provides for six ways of acquiring citizenship in Botswana.
They are birth, descent, settlement, adoption, naturalization and presidential dispensation

a. Citizenship by birth: It means that a child acquires citizenship when at the time
of birth either the mother or father was a citizen of Botswana and is born in
Botswana. In the past citizenship was patrilineal i.e. it was passed from father to
child only. This changed after Unity Dow successfully challenged the constitution
for being gender discriminatory.

b. Citizenship by descent- The act provides that a person born outside Botswana
shall be a citizen of Botswana if at the time of birth his father or mother was a
citizen of Botswana.

c. Citizenship by settlement- A person who settled in Botswana immediately

before 30th September 1966, and has lived as a member of a particular tribe or
community, shall if he so wish, make a declaration in such form as may be
prescribed and shall become a citizen of Botswana.

d. Citizenship by Registration-A child of not more than three years old adopted
under any written law relating to the adoption of children shall, if such a child was
not a citizen on the date of such adoption, become a citizen of Botswana by
adoption on the date of such adoption. However this is only possible if one of the
adopters or both adopters are citizens of Botswana. If a child of more than three
years old is adopted by a citizen of Botswana the Minister shall cause such a child
to be registered as a citizen of Botswana. A foreigner who is married to a
Motswana can also register to be a citizen of Botswana.

e. Citizenship by naturalisation- The Minister (Labour and Home Affairs) may

grant a certificate of naturalization to a person of full age, which is a person aged
21 years and above and of sound mind. The act prescribes that any foreigner who
wishes to be Motswana through naturalisation shall satisfy the Minister that:
 He or she has been resident of Botswana for a continuous period of 12
months before date of application for a certificate of naturalization.
 He or she must have been resident of Botswana for at least 10 years.
 Must be of good character.
 He or she has sufficient knowledge of Setswana language or any language
spoken by any tribal community in Botswana.
 He or she intends, in the event of a certificate of naturalization being
granted, to reside in Botswana.

f. Presidential dispensation (honorary citizenship)-This is a special kind of

citizenship given to a foreigner by the president if he feels that the person has
contributed significantly to the welfare of the country.
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QUALITIES OF A GOOD CITIZEN

A good citizen is the one who knows his/her rights and responsibilities. A good
citizen should perform the following:
- pay tax when required so that money accumulated can be used for other economic
sectors.
-vote in general elections and national referendum
-defend and represent the country with pride and dignity
-participation in development activities aimed at improving the welfare of the country
-respect the law stated in the constitution
-sympathise with the less fortunate such as orphans, handicapped and destitutes, help
them by donating clothes, money and other valuable items.
-share scarce resources with other members of the society
-use resources in a sustainable manner so that future generations can also benefit from
the same resources.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUTH, ETHNIC MINORITIES AND

WOMEN IN PROMOTING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY AND
RESPONSIBLE CITIZENRY.
* Participatory Democracy- this is a form of democracy in which all people take
part in social, economic and political activities of the country.

[Link]
They are the most active members of the society and they can ensure that their society
is progressive in terms of development by participating in the following ways:
-participate in sports and cultural activities
-take part in general elections and national referendum
-stand for positions of responsibility such as being MPs and councilors
-attend kgotla meetings and contribute during discussions
-initiate development projects by forming associations aimed at raising the standard
of living
-fight for their rights in a peaceful manner

ii. Women
The involvement of women in participatory democracy can be enhanced through the
following ways:
-women should challenge for positions of responsibility especially those that had
been dominated by men such as MPs and councilors, chiefs etc.
-advocate for their rights to eliminate gender inequality as exemplified by Unity Dow
who challenged the constitution over citizenship acquisition.
-address social ills such as abuse and oppression by forming pressure groups such as
Emang Basadi and Women Against Rape.
-Defend their societies and be quality leaders e.g. Lydia Nyati Ramahobo who
advocates for the rights of Wayei and Winnie Mandela who fought for the rights of
Black people in South Africa during the apartheid era.
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iii. Ethnic Minorities

These are groups that were not part of the ‘8 main tribes’ during the colonial period.
This includes ethnic groups such as Bakalanga, Hambukushu, Herero, Wayei,
Bakgalagadi etc. The policy of ‘divide and rule’ divided the nation into ‘minor and
major’ groups. Members of ‘minor groups’ often feel discriminated against and as a
result they exclude themselves from the affairs of the country. Ethnic minorities
should enhance their participation by;
-fighting for equal recognition of all groups e.g. minority groups successfully called
for the cancellation of terms ‘minor’ and ‘major’ from the constitution.
-emphasize equality before the law so that people can be treated equally regardless of
race, political opinion, origin etc.
-eliminate ethnic rivalries brought about by colonialism and join hands for collective
development the country.

WAYS OF FACILITATING/PROMOTING PEACE AMONGST VARIOUS

GROUPS IN A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY LIKE BOTSWANA.
There is need for different groups (cultural, political, spiritual and ethnic) to work hand in
hand with each other so that peace and harmony can prevail in the country. If various
groups do not cooperate with each other this can breed tensions, discrimination,
intolerance and civil wars. In order to achieve peace and harmony outlined in vision 2016
various groups can do the following:
i. Cultural Groups
These are groups that have been formed to fulfill the interests and aims of a particular
ethnic or cultural group. Various ethnic groups have formed their own associations to
campaign for their rights and ambitions e.g. Mbungu Wa Kathimana(Hambukushu)
Kamanakao (Wayei)
Society for Promotion of Ikalanga Language-SPIL (Bakalanga)
Such cultural associations can achieve peace through the following ways:
-Organising cultural exchange festivals so that they can exchange talents and cultural
knowledge on stage e.g. Maitisong festival. This will promote good relations between
cultural groups.
-Promotion of intermarriages across cultural groups so as to attain cultural tolerance
and equity.
-Organising seminars and conferences where cultural groups can come together to
discuss issues of concern and solve them peacefully.
-Educate people about the importance or respecting other people’s culture so as to
eliminate intolerance.
ii. Ethnic Groups
Botswana is a multi-ethnic state. It is made up of groups such as Bakwena,
Bakgalagadi, Wayei, Bakalanga etc. For peace to prevail these groups can be united
in the following ways:
-bury differences brought about by colonialism (e.g. differences between Bangwato
and Bakalanga) and join hands to develop the country.
-Those in power should spread development to all regions so that no ethnic group can
feel discriminated against.
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-promote intermarriages to enhance social harmony between the groups

-Skilled personnel should also be spread evenly throughout the country so that all
ethnic groups can benefit. There is a habit by some civil servants to refuse to work in
remote areas such as Seronga and Kachikau.
iii. Political Groups
This refers to political parties and other groups with political aims. These groups can
strive for peace through the following ways:
-give people equal opportunities to vote and to stand for positions of responsibility.
-accept the fact that people have varying political opinions and therefore people
should tolerate others political opinions to avoid wars that have political causes e.g.
war between ZANU PF and MDC in Zimbabwe(Mugabe versus Tsvangirai) .
iv. Religious groups
These are groups such as churches and other religious institutions. They can achieve
peace and unity through the following;
-Religious tolerance: There are many religions in Botswana and each religion and its
followers deserve to be respected and appreciated to avoid religious wars like those
between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and Pakistan.

THE ROLE OF THE STATE TO ITS CITIZENS

For citizens to be peaceful and progressive the state has to provide the following:
-improve the lives of citizens by providing health services like hospitals and clinics.
-provide security by establishing the police and defence force.
-provide primary, secondary and tertiary education
-protect basic human rights and freedoms of citizens.
-provide transport and telecommunication networks
-promotion of 5 national principles that contribute to Kagisano (social harmony).
-create employment for citizens by setting up industries and other employment creating
institutions.

MODERN AND TRADITIONAL ATTRIBUTES OF CITIZENSHIP

*Traditional attributes- These are qualities or characteristics that could show a person’s
citizenship in the past. Traditional attributes mainly showed citizenship at family and
community level. In the past citizenship could be shown by the following:
 Location (Ward) - The ward from which a person came gave that person
an identity because each ward was associated with a particular group of
people. Wards mostly comprised of people who are related.
 Language- In the past people could easily identify each other through
spoken language. Each ethnic group has distinct dialects which may be
used to differentiate them from others.
 Age-regiments- In the past when bogwera and bojale were practiced
graduates of a particular initiation were given a name which differed from
those of previous and upcoming graduates. Such names also differed from
one ethnic group to the other. Some people could identify themselves
using those names.
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 Communal land-This refers to land that belongs to all members of a

particular community or ethnic group. Having rights over a certain
communal land could also show citizenship.
 Other traditional attributes of citizenship include the following:
-dress e.g. Herero women wear long and often multi-coloured dresses with
head cloths shaped like cow-horns.
-totem e.g. Bakgatla (kgabo), Bangwato (phuti)
-Food e.g. Bakalanga (delele), Batawana (tswii)

*Modern attributes- In modern days citizenship is shown by the use of national

boundaries, passport, identity card, national symbols (e.g. coat of arms, flag, and national
anthem) and currency.

IMPACTS OF GLOBALISATION ON BATSWANA CITIZENS

*Globalisation is the process by which people, their ideas and activities become
interconnected and interdependent. No society on earth lives in isolation from others,
even the richest countries are not entirely self sufficient. There are certain goods and
services that they acquire from other countries. Globalisation makes the world seem like
a small planet or one country. People can communicate with each other throughout the
world through newspapers, telephones and internet. Events that occur in one country can
influence events in other countries e.g. political tensions in Zimbabwe have led to illegal
immigrants in Botswana and the depreciation of the Euro (European currency) can
decrease the profits made by Botswana’s exports in European markets.
Advantages of globalisation
 Exchange of skilled personnel, ideas and information e.g. computers and
medical expertise.
 Countries can assist each other in times of troubles such as famine and
natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis etc.
 Foreign aid: rich countries and organizations can offer loans and grants to
developing countries like Botswana.
 Increased cooperation in resolving crises such as wars and diseases.
 Cultural enrichment due to interaction of many people.
 Promotion of human rights by international organizations such as
Amnesty Intl. and United Nations.
 Removal of trade barriers between Botswana and other SADC member
states.

Disadvantages of globalisation
 Foreigners may compete for limited jobs with the local people. Most high
paying jobs are occupied by foreigners especially in the private sector.
 Loss of culture due to increased interactions between Batswana and people
from different cultures.
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 Contagious diseases may be brought into the country by foreigners e.g.

AIDS originated outside Africa but now Botswana is one of the hardest hit
countries.
 Monopoly of trade and markets by rich countries and thus increasing
inequalities between rich and poor countries.
 Increased crime due to exchange of ideas with other foreign criminals.
Foreigners may smuggle in prohibited substances such as marijuana,
mandrax and cocaine. The use of these substances is prohibited by law in
Botswana but people often find illegal ways of bringing in such drugs.
There are now cases of well planned armed robberies due to influx of fire
arms from neighboring countries.
 Multi-national companies outcompete local companies and this
consequently leads to the downfall of local companies.
 Braindrain- Botswana often loses skilled personnel to more developed
countries such as Britain, USA and Canada.

 Influx of illegal immigrants especially from neighboring countries such as

Zimbabwe. Illegal immigrants are associated with many problems such as
crimes and prostitution. Repatriation of such immigrants also puts pressure
on government budget.
 Restrictions on trade by international organizations e.g. Botswana and
other countries may not be allowed to trade with countries that are
blacklisted by organizations such as Amnesty International.
 Influence by global economic forces e.g. global inflation, fluctuating
market prices, devaluation of currency.
 Exaggeration of issues by international organizations e.g. Survival
International gave wrong information to the world about the way Basarwa
were treated in Old Xade.
 Interference by International organizations in domestic issues e.g. the
involvement of Amnesty International in the Marietta Bosch case.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UN CHARTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN

PROMOTING SOUND GLOBAL CITIZENRY.

In 1948 the UN issued a declaration on human rights. These rights are regarded as the
foundation of freedom, justice and peace throughout the world. The charter describes all
the rights to which all human beings should be entitled and stresses that everyone should
be treated without discrimination of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political opinion etc. They include the right to life, own property, vote, nationality,
freedom of movement, opinion and association etc. These rights go hand in hand with
responsibilities and the consideration of the rights of others. The charter guides countries
on how they should handle citizens throughout the world. Countries that abuse these
rights are often sanctioned or blacklisted by international organisations such as Amnesty
International.
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THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN SUSTAINING

HUMAN LIFE, DIGNITY AND PEACE.

[Link] Red Cross

This is non-profit making organization formed to help all human beings who are in need
equally. It assists those people in need of social and health services in poor or countries
that are ravaged by wars. The Red Cross can provide services such as food, shelter,
clothing and medicine. Similar services can also be provided to victims of natural
disasters such as floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This organisation also
encourages governments to treat people with respect and dignity especially refugees and
prisoners.

2. Amnesty International.

This organisation is concerned with fighting for human rights throughout the world. Its
aims include:
-ensuring that prisoners are treated justly, especially those jailed for political and
religious reasons.
-persuading governments to end capital punishment and all forms of torture
-making public the names of those countries that abuse human rights.
This organisation can blacklist a country i.e. it can influence other countries or
international donors not to trade with or assist a country that abuses human rights e.g.
during Marietta Bosch’s case this organisation tried to persuade European Union member
states not to buy diamonds from Botswana as they are “soiled with blood”.

3. International Court of Justice

It is a court that has been formed to solve international disputes that may lead to wars
and pass judgement based on international law e.g. it mediated between Botswana and
Namibia over the ownership of Sedudu Island and ruled in favour of Botswana. The court
can also clarify or interpret agreements between countries and international organisations.
On several occasions the court tried cases involving those leaders who abused human
rights whilst in power e.g. Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia.

4. UN Peace-keeping Forces

These are soldiers from various UN member states that are assembled to carryout some
military assignments on countries affected by wars and other crises. They also fight
terrorist groups that threaten peace such as Al Qaeda. They can also do relief activities
such as supplying food and medicine to areas where they are needed.

5. Survival International
It is concerned with the protection of rights of nomadic groups whose survival is
threatened by development. This includes groups such as the Aborigines of Australia and
Basarwa of Southern Africa. In Botswana this organisation is advocating for Basarwa not
to be relocated from CKGR to New Xade.
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ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL CRISES

These are events or occurrences that are of concern to all people throughout the world.
These problems often force countries to forget about their differences and come together
to solve the crises collectively. Serious global crises include HIV/AIDS, Global
Warming, Terrorism and Desertification.

1. Global Warming

This is the rise in the earth’s atmospheric temperature arising from pollution due to
natural and human activities. Natural activities that increase the amount of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere include volcanic eruptions and veldfires caused by lightning. Human
activities include the destruction of vegetation cover and the burning of fossil fuels such
as coal, petrol, oil [Link] activities increase the amount of carbon dioxide which
absorbs reflected radiation from the earth. This raises the temperature of the atmosphere.
This process is called greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect occurs throughout the world
and it has the following negative consequences:

-a rise in the earth’s temperature may lead to melting of Polar Regions (areas covered
with ice such as Antarctica). The melting of Polar Regions will flood rivers and raise
the level of the sea.

-a rise in sea level will submerge or inundate settlements along the sea coasts.
-there will be climatic changes due to an imbalance in atmospheric gases.

-habitats of plants and animals will be destroyed especially those that live in areas
covered with ice e.g. polar bears.

2. HIV/AIDS

One of the most significant factors affecting world’s population today is the alarming
spread of HIV/AIDS related illnesses. As there is not yet a cure for AIDS, it remains a
fatal disease and anyone who contracts it is likely to die. HIV/AIDS is a disease that
affects the body’s immune system making it vulnerable to multiple infections including
those that the immune system would prevent under normal conditions.

HIV/AIDS has serious implications for governments all over the world because of the
following:

i. Loss of active and working population- In most cases the disease attacks people aged
between 18 and 45. This age group forms the core of the working population and this
consequently reduces the workforce. The early and unexpected death leads to reduced
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productivity and manpower at the workplace. Most the manpower has been trained at the
expense of government which means that it incurs some losses and it also has to train
other personnel to replace those killed by AIDS. A lot of time spent on looking for
medication and on sick leave has serious negative impacts on productivity.

ii. Increase in death rate-HIV/AIDS is the number one killer in the world. In Botswana
it has overtaken other fatal diseases and road accidents as the major cause of deaths. High
deaths also result in reduced life expectancy and a high proportion of young and very old
population.

iii. Pressure on government budget- A lot of money is used by government to buy

preventive medication such as ARV drugs and this consequently leads to reduced
investment in other economic sectors and ignorance of other fatal diseases.

iv. Loss of breadwinners- Some families may lose very important people leading to their
collapse. Loss of breadwinners may result in poverty and increased number of orphans
who mainly end up as street children. There will be more destitutes who need
government support.

v. Stigma and discrimination- The family has to cope with the stigma of the virus and
victims might isolate themselves from major family and community activities. The
stigma also entails negative implications on the mental status of the individual as well as
the family.

3. Terrorism

These are acts of violence usually carried out by small (at times large) groups of people
in order to achieve certain goals which may be religiously or politically motivated. Such
acts of violence have increased due to contrasting foreign policies of certain countries
and religious differences. Such terrorist groups include Al Qaeda which is responsible for
the ‘September 11 attacks’ in New York and the bombing of US embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania.

Other terrorist activities include the 1988 Lockerbie plane bombing in Scotland and 2002
train bombing in Spain. Such terrorist activities are hard to control because they are very
secretive and have resulted in loss of innocent lives.

There is also an increase in the number of suicide bombings. Some of the terrorist
activities are allegedly sponsored by some governments who do not want to promote
world peace e.g. Iraq, Syria and Iran.

Terrorism is a global crisis because of the following negative effects:

- It leads to loss of lives of innocent people

- Destruction of valuable property e.g. buildings, roads, brigades
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- Separation of families as others are killed whilst some run away to seek refuge in other
countries.

- Some people are unwilling to travel especially by air as they fear that terrorists might
hijack their planes. This disrupts business especially the airline industry.

- Disruption of world trade or markets as countries supporting terrorists’ activities may be

sanctioned from international trade. This may reduce markets especially for Multi
National Companies.

- Disruption of world peace and stability as terrorism may lead to clashes between
governments, for instance, terrorism has led to tensions between the Arab countries and
the West. Wars may result if the issue is not resolved diplomatically.

- High expenditure on security services so as to protect people from such acts of violence.

- Pressure on a country’s budget as more money is used to reconstruct/rehabilitate what

has been destroyed by terrorists. This may also delay development.

4. Desertification
This is the process by which deserts are formed. The sizes of world deserts are
continuously increasing due to climatic changes and the activities of people and their
livestock.

The rapid increase of human population enhances desertification through overgrazing,

over cultivation and deforestation. Natural disasters such as frequent droughts also have a
helping hand in desertification.

Negative effects of desertification are:

-extinction of plant species that are vital to both animals and people

-loss of habitats of animals

- loss of soil quality making it unsuitable for agricultural production

-loss of trees reduces the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere and this alters
climate.
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

International relations

This refers to the official interactions or contacts between countries. No country is

entirely independent, countries are interrelated and interdependent in various ways, for
instance, countries can interact with each other through trade, politics and sporting
activities. International relations are not only between one country and another, they can
also be between a country and an NGO e.g. Botswana and United Nations Organisation
or between two NGOs e.g. SACU and European Union.
Sovereignty
This is the right and power of independent countries to make decisions or run their affairs
without interference from other states or international organisations. In 1966 Botswana
gained independence from Britain and became a sovereign state. The government of
Botswana is now responsible for running its domestic and international affairs without
interference from Britain or any other country or international organisation.
Foreign Policy
The picture through which a country wants to be known by others or the ideas on how
different countries relate with one another e.g. Botswana wants to be known as a peaceful
country and a shining example of democracy. Foreign policy affects how countries
interact politically and economically with people and governments all over the world.
Diplomacy
It is the skillful and tactful management of international relations. Government
representatives in foreign countries known as diplomats usually carry out diplomacy.

Importance of International Relations

Countries are interdependent, no country has everything that it needs to survive and
develop. Countries trade with each other to get what they need e.g. Botswana buys
products from outside such as cars, petrol and machinery. Other countries buy local
products such as beef, diamonds and textiles. International relations are important for the
following reasons:
 Enhance mutual understanding and peace between countries- Countries that have
good international relations are unlikely to go to war. Disputes between such
countries are always solved through diplomacy (negotiation) e.g. the dispute
between Botswana and Namibia over the ownership of Sedudu Island.
 Facilitates cooperation and assistance between countries- International relations
can make countries work together and help each other in times of troubles e.g.
Botswana helping Mozambique during floods.
 Protection of national interests- countries deal with each other in order to protect
their national interests which are known to other countries through diplomacy.
 Through international relations countries can encourage each other to respect
human rights by condemning and even imposing some sanctions on those
governments that abuse human rights e.g. Libya was banned from participating in
all international sporting activities after failing to handover suspects of the
Lockerbie plane bombing in 1988.
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 Promotion of trade and exchange of technology and skilled personnel- Countries

that are on good terms often have some trade agreements e.g. free movement of
goods for SACU member states within any member country. Countries also help
each other in exchanging technology and skilled manpower. Rich countries often
offer scholarships to students in developing countries and this helps to develop the
manpower of poor countries.

Principles that guide Botswana's foreign policy

1. Protection of national interest (consideration of Botswana first) - The main aim of
Botswana's foreign policy is to protect and promote her national interest before the
outside world. Decisions have to be made in the interest of local people or the nation i.e.
satisfies the needs and wants of Batswana before any other people. It also means seeking
maximum benefits for Batswana from trade and development aid.
2. Good neighbourliness- Botswana tries to be a good neighbour because she believes in
peace. Botswana maintains friendly relations with other countries, helping others in times
of disasters such as floods and resolving conflicts peacefully. The government believes in
finding peaceful solutions to conflicts e.g. the issue of Sedudu Island was solved without
the use of force. This is shown by the proverb 'ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo' which means
that conflict is best solved through negotiation.
3. Respect for International Law- Botswana is a democratic country that believes in the
rule of law. Botswana respects international law that is mainly concerned with the legal
rights and duties of independent countries. Through international relations and
multilateral agreements countries accept general principles that guide their relations with
others. Disobeying such laws may result in other countries criticising Botswana and this
may harm her national interests.
4. Respect for human rights- Botswana has signed the UN's charter on human rights
and condemns violations of these rights. When dealing with citizens of other countries
Botswana respects their human rights. She also expects other countries to respect the
human rights of Batswana living or traveling within the borders of other countries.
5. Non-Interference in internal affairs of other countries- Botswana respects the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries i.e. Botswana does not get involved
in the affairs of other countries and would not tell another country how to manage its
resources or what type of government it should have. She also expects other countries
and international organisations not to interfere in her internal affairs.
6. Non-alignment- After 2nd World War two superpowers emerged, both the Soviet
Union and the USA wanted to dominate the world. The tension between the two
countries was called the Cold War and it divided the world into two factions, the East and
the West. Some countries supported the USA backed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO) and others supported the Russian backed Warsaw Pact. Countries that supported
neither the West (NATO) nor the East (Warsaw Pact) established Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM). NAM wanted to promote world peace and Botswana joined NAM
because she did not want to be involved in the Cold War. Even though the Cold War is
over, the principle of non-alignment in conflict situations still guides Botswana's foreign
policy.
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7. Respect for territorial integrity- All independent countries have clearly defined
territorial boundaries which are internationally accepted. Other countries have to respect
these boundaries if peace is to prevail among nations. Botswana would not invade
another country and she would not allow any country to claim any land that belongs to
her.

The Role of Botswana in International Relations (at regional, continental and

international level).
Botswana has diplomatic relations with many countries and international organisations
e.g. she deals with the European Union and is a member of UN, AU and Commonwealth.
She is also a member of regional organisations such as SADC and SACU.
 Regional level- Through membership of regional organisations such as SADC
and SACU, Botswana has contributed a lot to the development of the Southern
African region. Botswana is one of those countries that criticised South Africa's
apartheid policies that denied the majority of its citizens human rights and
freedoms. One of the major aims of SADC was to achieve economic
independence from South Africa by Southern African countries. Generally both
SACU and SADC aim to remove all trade barriers between member states, have
common external trade relationships with other countries in the world and to
encourage regional self-reliance.
 Continental-Botswana became a member of African Union in 1966. The major
aims of AU are to promote African Unity, end colonialism and white minority
rule and to improve the standard of living of African people through cooperation.
To show her commitment to AU Botswana pays her membership and attends its
meetings. Botswana supported AU's disapproval of white minority rule, apartheid
and colonial rule. Botswana also took part in various peacekeeping missions
carried out under the AU's name in Somalia and Mozambique. Botswana's former
president Dr. QKJ Masire has been given the task to facilitate peace in the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
 International level- Botswana is a member of UN and fully supports and abides
by the laws and regulations of this organisation. The main aim of the UN is to
maintain world peace and security. It also aims to encourage friendly relations
between nations, promote cooperation in solving world problems and to promote
human rights. To show her commitment to the UN, Botswana allows many UN
agencies such as UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO to work in Botswana.
Botswana used the International Court of Justice to settle the Sedudu Island
dispute. Botswana has supported the UN's efforts to maintain peace by allowing
the BDF to take part in various peacekeeping missions. Some BDF soldiers also
went to Rwanda to monitor peace after massive killings of the Tutsis by the
Hutus. Through the UN Botswana also condemns acts of terrorism, abuse of
human rights and invasion of smaller states by powerful ones e.g. Iraq's invasion
of Kuwait in 1990.
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How Botswana benefits from international relations

Market- Through her relations with many countries and international organisations
Botswana has managed to find a reliable market for her exports e.g. Botswana's diamonds
and beef are mostly sold to European countries through the European Union. Through
membership of SACU Botswana's imports move free of charge in other SACU member
states.
Foreign Aid- Botswana is able to acquire financial and material help from developed
countries like USA, China, Sweden and Britain e.g. China has given Botswana loans to
build houses, roads and a multipurpose youth centre. She also helped to repair the railway
line.
Acquisition of skilled manpower and technology-Some Chinese medical personnel are
also employed in Botswana hospitals. The EU approved P12 million in 2002 to fund
projects in rural areas. The aim of this aid is to improve the standard of living of people
in rural areas by training them to run businesses.
Foreign investment-Due to Botswana's political stability and good international relations
some Multi-National Companies (MNCs) like Coca Cola, Shell and Hyundai have
created some businesses in Botswana.
Creation of employment opportunities-Botswana has signed trade agreements with
other countries e.g. the Swedish government has opened up a car assembly plant in
Botswana to assemble Scania and Volvo trucks and buses. These MNCs help to improve
the infrastructure of the country and also create employment for thousands of Batswana.
Most of these MNCs are export-oriented and therefore bring foreign exchange to the
country.
Free movement of goods- By virtue of being a member of SACU and SADC
Botswana’s goods from other countries move freely through other memberstates. Since
Botswana is a landlocked country it can also use other country’s ports.
Scholarship- Some rich countries and international organizations often sponsor students
to go and study for various professions locally and internationally. Some support sporting
activities e.g. football cups and trophies.

Challenges faced by Botswana in International relations.

The following are problems that Botswana experiences/faces in her international
relations;
 Relationship with oppressive and undemocratic governments- Some countries
that have international relations with Botswana are often characterised by
autocratic and undemocratic regimes. In these countries the rights of people are
limited e.g. in Zimbabwe there are human rights abuses. Botswana cannot openly
criticise such governments because she respects their sovereignty and the
principles of non-interference and good neighbourliness.
 Economic crises and political instability in neighbouring countries- Political
instability (wars) and the downfall of the economies of countries such as
Zimbabwe exposes Botswana to a number of problems. Many illegal
Zimbabwean immigrants have flocked into Botswana to avoid the hostile situation
in their country. These illegal Zimbabweans are associated with many criminal
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activities and anti-social behaviour such as prostitution. It also costs the

government to transport those immigrants back to their home countries.
Nowadays there is a tension between Botswana government and their
Zimbabwean counterparts who claim that Zimbabweans are intentionally ill-
treated in Botswana.
 Relationship with poor countries-Some of Botswana's international allies are
very poor and as such they are always receiving aid from Botswana but the help
they give to Botswana is very minimal. Examples of such countries include
Mozambique and Zambia. On several occasions Botswana has helped these
countries in their domestic problems but they rarely return the favour.
 " Big brother attitude"-Some economically strong countries like USA and
Britain often use poorer countries like Botswana to satisfy their political goals e.g.
Botswana has signed an agreement with the AU to send serious criminals to the
International court of Justice but the US has convinced Botswana not to send
American criminals to the court without their consent. Since Botswana has been
helped by the US on many occasions it became hard for Botswana to disagree
with the US in fear of losing the US's aid.
 Interference by rich countries or international organizations in Botswana’s
internal affairs- Botswana’s sovereignty is often disturbed by international
oganisations’ involvement in the running of the country especially human rights
organizations like Amnesty and Survival International, for example, in 2006
Survival International successfully advocated for Basarwa not to be removed from
the CKGR. Government lost millions of Pulas during that ‘legal marathon’ with
Basarwa/ Survival International.
 Exaggeration of issues by international organizations- Sometimes international
organizations give false information to the international community in order to
gain support, for example, Survival International falsely informed the world that
Basarwa were being tortured and killed for refusing to vacate the CKGR. This
propaganda can tarnish the image of the country and consequently scare away
potential investors.
 Putting national issues on the international agenda- International organizations
often disclose national issues that can be solved locally to the entire world as
exemplified by Amnesty International during the Marrietta Bosch’s case. The
organization unsuccessfully tried to lobby European Union countries to boycott
buying of Botswana’s diamonds because they were ‘soiled with blood’.

The Role of International Organisations in conflict resolution

The United Nations (UN)

The UN aims to promote world peace and security. It has a number of agencies that try to
carryout its aims. The Security Council makes decisions on world peace and the
International Court of Justice hears international cases and makes rulings based on
international law. One of the major roles of the UN is peacekeeping; the UN has carried
out a number of military assignments to bring peace in war torn countries such as
Somalia and Mozambique. The UN has also liberated oppressed people such as the Iraqis
and Afghans. Through the Security Council the UN ensures that countries do not make
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weapons of mass destruction as this threatens world peace.

African Union (AU)

The AU ensures that countries in Africa coexist peacefully and that Africa as a whole is
independent. The organisation also gives African countries the opportunity to come up
with collective strategies or plans around economic and political issues. The AU has
undertaken several peacekeeping missions, helped political refugees and condemned
oppressions and violations of human rights. The AU has worked hard to bring about
tolerance, cooperation and unity among African states. The AU has made some gains in a
number of areas:
-Successfully supported the liberation of countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique,
Angola and Guinea Bissau.
-Settled boundary disputes between Ethiopia and Somalia, Guinea and Senegal, Kenya
and Somalia.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

The purpose of NAM is to stand for peace in the world. It opposes any interference in the
affairs of Third World countries by the big powers. Member states of NAM will always
remain neutral in any political factions. NAM encourages member states to protect their
sovereignty. It has fought against apartheid and for the liberation of countries such as
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola.
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CULTURE

Compare and contrast Botswana National Culture with those of the World

Comparison (Similarities) Botswana culture vs African Culture

-Some words and phrases (languages) that are used outside Botswana are similar to
those used in Botswana. E.g Kgomo, Inkomo, Ngombe.

-Botswana traditional music is similar to that of South Africans.

-Most of Africans believe in African Traditional Religion (ATR). This include the
believe that there is life after death.

-A lot of food staff eaten in Botswana is common in the African countries, eg Maize,
melons , nuts, sorghum etc.

-The dress code in Botswana is similar to most used in African countries.

-Art, Craft, wood carving is common in Botswana and other African countries.

Contrast (differences) Botswana culture vs African culture

-Language: While there are some similarities in some words, some languages used
by some African countries are totally different and difficult to use. E.g, Arabic, Ibo,
Swahill and Venda languages.

-Beliefs: Many African countries believe in Christianity and Islam, but others do not
believe in life after death.

-Food: Some food stuff in other African Countries are totally NOT in Botswana.

Demostrate cultural tolerance towards international citizens

-Visiting those international citizens for workshops, seminars, conferences so that

they can share with us their experiences.

-Being able to communicate in other international languages like Xhosa, Ndebele,

Swahill, French and Portuguese.

-Different food types are found in our shops from other countries, eg Halaal and sea
foods.

-Different types of music played in our country is from other countries, for instance
hip hop, reggae.
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-International citizens are free to visit Botswana without serious restrictions and they
can invest in the country.

Discuss global disparities resulting from cultural practices

-Women are still undermined and considered inferior while men are superior

-Most senior positions are held by men in government and private sector.

-Women are still not employed in certain professions because they are seen as weak and
inferior.

Suggest possible solutions to address issues of gender imbalances within cultural

practices internationally

-Advocating and lobbying for women participation and empowerment:

Concerned groups and stakeholders can challenge government on gender imbalances at
international level through organisations such as UN and NGOs.

-Affirmative Action:
This is when there is a need for positive discrimination whereby there is a deliberate
policy to favour certain disadvantaged group like women, eg certain positions can be
reserved for women only.

-International workshops, Seminars and conferences

These help participants to appreciate other gender and stops governments to practices
negative ones.

Discuss the need for cultural tolerance, cultural space, cultural appreciation and
liberty in the world

-Helps people to be united

-Makes people to be free and associate with others without any problem
-Helps people to accept and accommodate others

Discuss the role of media in influencing culture

-Helps people to appreciate culture eg through television and radio

-Disseminate information information to people of the whole world
-Makes people to modify their way of life and choose what they are comfortable with

Discuss ways of promoting culture internationally

-Advertising in posters, newspapers, televisions and radios

-Participation in international trade fairs, festivals and showcasing cultural artefacts
-Showcasing in international media
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-Attaching culture to tourism activities (eco-tourism)