Bechuanaland

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 20

Bechuanaland

Beside the frictions and turmoils of its neighbours the British protectorate of Bechuanaland moves towards full self-government with calm and orderly progress. Some irony lingers about the announcement that the British Government, in the midst of all the heat over Rhodesia, has approved independence for Bechuanaland by September 30, 1966. Britain is still responsible for the protectorate’s defence, its internal security, and its Public Service. Since last March Bechuanaland has had its own internal self-government; and before that, from 1961, it had a multi-racial Legislative Council. To Mr Seretse Khama’s Bechuanaland Democratic Party belong 28 of the 31 elected members of the Legislative Assembly. Mr Khama, the “ Black Englishman ”, was stripped of his chieftainship of the Bamangwato when the British Government decided that his marriage to a London insurance clerk threatened tribal peace and order. He spent six years in exile in Britain, but soon retrieved power as a political leader after losing it as a hereditary ruler.

The Prime Minister is a moderate, fair, and capable politician owning none of the foreign allegiances of his political opponents. His Government disapproves of South Africa’s race policies but accepts as inevitable economic ties with the republic. Bechuanaland and the other two British High Commission territories, Basutoland and Swaziland, are in a customs union with South Africa; and Bechuanaland uses South African currency. The Bechuanaland Democratic Party does not tolerate apartheid or a colour bar inside the protectorate and the white farmers, mostly Africaners, accept this. Doubts about Bechuanaland’s future concern neither racial difficulties nor the ability of the Prime Minister, who is strongly supported by a relatively untutored electorate. But Bechuanaland needs economic and social development for its 540,000 people, and its resources are modest. A development plan, supported by Britain, will continue until 1968; and it is certain that outside aid will have to continue after independence. For many years Britain has supplemented taxation revenue with grants to cover Government expenditure. Most of the country is desert; the rest is only just suitable for cattle grazing or, where the rainfall is adequate, for crops of maize and tobacco. Many Bechuanas find work in the South African goldfields; mineral production within the protectorate, mainly asbestos and manganese, is modest. Copper, silver, and gold resources are being explored, water supplies are being improved, and medical, education, and reading advances are being made under the development plan. Bechuanaland still has big tasks ahead, but seems ready to shoulder them with determination and confidence.