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Botswana
has put a premium on economic and political integration in Southern Africa. It has sought
to make SADC a working vehicle for economic development, and it has promoted efforts to
make the region self-policing in terms of preventative diplomacy, conflict resolution, and
good governance. It has welcomed post-apartheid South Africa as a partner in these
efforts. |
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Botswana
has formal diplomatic relations with most African countries and many European nations and
Arab countries. A number of ambassadors accredited to Botswana reside in Harare, Zimbabwe,
or in Lusaka, Zambia. Botswana receives development aid from many sources. It is a member
of international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization of African
Unity (OAU). In 1996, it will complete a two-year term on the UN's Security Council, where
it established a record of consensual, constructive participation. Botswana joins the
African consensus on most major international matters. |
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Foreign Policy |
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The
political and economic alignments of Botswana's foreign policy are indicated by the places
to which it has sent resident ambassadors - originally New York and Washington, London and
Lusaka in the 1960s; followed by Brussels, Harare and Stockholm in the 1980s, and by
Windhoek, Moscow and Beijing in the early 1990s. An ambassador in Pretoria was appointed
in 1994 -- Botswana having declined to exchange diplomats with South Africa since 1966. |
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The
main hostile factors in Botswana's foreign relations after 1966 were Rhodesia until its
independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, and South Africa until the beginning of its internal
political settlement in 1990. In both cases the preceding five or six years saw military
incursions and other attempts to destabilize Botswana by these hostile powers. |
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South
Africa also attempted to obtain Botswana's recognition of a "shadow" republic
called Bophuthatswana (meaning union of all the Tswana) - carved out of South African
territory next to Botswana in 1976, and fully reincorporated into South Africa in 1994. |
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One
of the government’s major projects for diversification of the Botswana economy is the
establishment of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). A range of fiscal
incentives will be given to companies operating in the IFSC. In order to include
provisions relating to the operations of these companies, a new Section will be added to
the Income Tax Act. Companies operating in the IFSC and resident in Botswana will be
subject to Botswana taxation at the concessionary rate of 15 percent, already applicable
to manufacturing industries. |
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Tax Treaties |
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There
are double taxation treaties in force between Botswana and Mauritius, South Africa, Sweden
and the United Kingdom. |
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