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The 'Bechuanaland Protectorate' (BP) was a protectorate established on March 31, 1885 by the United Kingdom in southern Africa. It became the 'Republic of Botswana' on 30 September 1966.

Contents

History

Postage stamps

See also

External links

References

History

'Bechuanaland' meant the country of the Bechuana (now written Batswana or Tswana). Bechuanaland was divided in two. The southern part, known as 'British Bechuanaland', later became part of the Cape Colony and is now in South Africa. This is the area around Mafikeng (then spelled "Mafeking"). The Bechuanaland Protectorate formed the northern part; its territory was expanded north in 1890.
The British government originally expected to turn over administration of the protectorate to Rhodesia or South Africa, but Tswana opposition left the protectorate under British rule until Independence in 1966.
The BP was technically a protectorate rather than a colony. Originally the local Tswana rulers were left in power, and the British administration was limited to a police force to protect Bechuanaland's borders against other European colonial ventures. But on 9 May 1891 the British Government gave the administration of the protectorate to the High Commissioner for South Africa,
who started to appoint officials in Bechuanaland, and the ''de facto'' independence of Bechuanaland ended.
The protectorate was administered from Mafeking, creating a unique situation of the capital of the territory being located outside of it. In 1885, when the protectorate was declared, Bechuanaland was bounded to the north by the latitude of twenty-two degreees south. In 1894 Bechuanaland was extended to include Ngamiland in the north, which was dominated by the Tswana state.
The eastern part of the colony was originally claimed by Matabeleland, and in 1887 Samuel Edwards (working for Cecil Rhodes) obtained a mining concession. In 1895 the British South Africa Company attempted to acquire the area, but three Tswana chiefs visited London to protest and were successful in fending off the BSAC. Later attempts to develop also had little effect.
The BP was one of the "High Commission Territories", the others being Basutoland (now Lesotho) and
Swaziland. The official with the authority of a governor was the High Commissioner. This office was first held
by the Governor of the Cape, then by the Governor-General of South Africa, by British
High Commissioners and Ambassadors to South Africa until independence. Consequently, administration was headed in each territory by a Resident Commissioner, who thus had approximately the same functions of a Governor but somewhat less authority.

Postage stamps

Main articles: Postage stamps and postal history of Bechuanaland Protectorate

Bechuanaland postage stamps were issued from 1888 to 1966. Overprinted stamps were issued until 1932, when the first stamps inscribed "Bechuanaland Protectorate" were issued. In 1962 the South African rand was introduced, necessitating surcharged stamps until new ones were issued.

See also

★ History of Botswana

External links

★ History of Botswana

★ List of colonial officials in the BP

★ Bibliography for Botswana History

References

★ Thomas Tlou and Alec Campbell ''History of Botswana''

★ Neil Parsons ''New History of Southern Africa''

★ Fred Morton and Jeff Ramsay (eds) ''The birth of Botswana : a history of the Bechuanaland Protectorate from 1910 to 1966.''