Ghanzi District

Last updated
Ghanzi
Gantsi
KubuIsland 02.jpg
Botswana - Ghanzi.svg
Location within Botswana
Coordinates: 22°00′S22°00′E / 22.000°S 22.000°E / -22.000; 22.000
Country Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Capital Ghanzi
Area
  Total117,910 km2 (45,530 sq mi)
Population
 (2022 census)
  Total56,555
  Density0.48/km2 (1.2/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)
HDI (2017)0.666 [1]
medium · 10th

Ghanzi (sometimes Gantsi) is a district in western Botswana, bordering Namibia in the west and extending east into much of the interior of the country. The district's administrative centre is the town of Ghanzi. Most of the eastern half of Ghanzi makes up the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The human population at the 2022 census was 56,555, [2] less populous than that of any other district in Botswana. Ghanzi's area is 117,910 km².

Contents

In the west, Ghanzi borders the Omaheke Region of Namibia. Domestically, it borders the following districts: North-West on the north, Central on the east, Kweneng on the southeast, Kgalagadi on the south. Ghanzi, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Deception Valley, Ghanzi Craft, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Khutse Game Reserve are the major game areas in the district.

The district is administered by a district administration and district council which are responsible for local administration.

Geography

Bushman at Deception Valley in the District BushmenSan.jpg
Bushman at Deception Valley in the District

In the west, Ghanzi borders the Omaheke Region of Namibia. Domestically, it borders the following districts: North-West on the north, Central on the east, Kweneng on the southeast, Kgalagadi on the south. Ghanzi is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude. This region is largely covered by the Kalahari Desert, some of which is also covered by the Makgadikgadi Pans, a large seasonal wetland. The Makgadigadi was one of the Earth's largest lakes during the Pleistocene, but currently provides a vast summer wetland to support tens of thousands of migrating flamingos in the rainy summer season. [3] The largest town in the district is the capital Ghanzi with a population of 21,420 according to the 2011 census, which is fifteen times more than the second-largest village Ncojane has. Most part of Botswana has tableland slopes sliding from east to west. The region has an average elevation of around 550 m (1,800 ft) above the mean sea level. The vegetation type is Savannah, with tall grasses, bushes and trees on the eastern sides, but it is arid in the Central and Western regions. The annual precipitation is around 25 cm (9.8 in), most of which is received during the summer season from November to May. Most of the rivers in the region are seasonal which are prone to flash floods, being the most prominent. [4] The tourist and game reserves in the region are Ghanzi, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Deception Valley, Ghanzi Craft, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Khutse Game Reserve and Kuru Museum and Cultural Centre. [5]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
198119,096    
199124,719+29.4%
200133,170+34.2%
201143,355+30.7%
202256,555+30.4%
Source: Census of Botswana [6]

As of 2011, the total population of the district was 43,355 compared to 33,170 in 2001. The growth rate of population during the decade was 2.71. The population in the district was 2.14 per cent of the total population in the country. The sex ratio stood at 107.41 for every 100 males, compared to 104.07 in 2001. The average house hold size was 2.94 in 2011 compared to 4.21 in 2001. There were 1,424 craft and related workers, 615 clerks, 3,730 people working in elementary occupation 230 Legislators, Administrators & managers 534 Plant & machine operators and assemblers, 131 professionals, 1,043 service workers, shop & market sales workers, 771 skilled agricultural & related workers 509 technicians and associated professionals, making the total work force to 9,015. [6]

Economy and education

As of 2011, there were a total of 23 schools in the district, with 1.70 per cent private schools. The total number of students in the Council schools was 7,202 while it was 69 in private schools. The total number of students enrolled in the district was 7,271: 3,645 girls and 3,626 boys. The total number of qualified teachers was 305: 185 female and 120 male. There were around 17 temporary teachers, 17 male and 34 female. There were no untrained teachers in the district. [7]

As of 2006, 3,507 were involved in agriculture, 323 in construction, 724 in education, 43 in electricity and water, 121 in finance, 264 in health, 83 in hotels and restaurants, 560 in manufacturing, 93 in other community services, 399 in private households, 1,849 in public administration, 355 in real estate, 185 in transport and communications, 1,788 in wholesale and retail trade. The total number of workers was 10,294: 5,959 male and 4,335 female. [8]

Administration

High Street in Ghanzi GantsiHighStreet.jpg
High Street in Ghanzi

Botswana gained independence from the British in 1966 and adapted the colonial administration framework to form its district administration. The policies were modified during 1970-74 to address some of the basic issues. [9] The district is administered by a district administration and district council which are responsible for local administration. The policies for the administration are framed by the Ministry of Local Government. The major activities of the council are Tribal Administration, Remote Area Development and Local Governance. The executive powers of the council are vested on a commissioner appointed by the central government. Technical services wing of the Department of Local Government is responsible for developing roads, infrastructure in villages like water supply, schools and recreational facilities. [10] All the staff of the local administration expect District Administration are selected via Unified Local Government Services (ULGS) and the Ministry of Local Government is responsible for their training, deployment and career development. [11] Charles Hill Sub-District, Ghanzi Sub-District are the two sub districts of the district. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Botswana</span>

Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa, north of South Africa. Botswana occupies an area of 581,730 square kilometres (224,610 sq mi), of which 566,730 km2 (218,820 sq mi) are land. Botswana has land boundaries of combined length 4,347.15 kilometres (2,701.19 mi), of which the constituent boundaries are shared with Namibia, for 1,544 km (959 mi); South Africa 1,969 km (1,223 mi); Zimbabwe, 834 km (518 mi) and Zambia, 0.15 km (0.093 mi). Much of the population of Botswana is concentrated in the eastern part of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalahari Desert</span> Semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa

The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square kilometres (350,000 sq mi), covering much of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omaheke Region</span> Region in Namibia

Omaheke is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, the least populous region. Its capital is Gobabis. It lies in eastern Namibia on the border with Botswana and is the western extension of the Kalahari desert. The self-governed villages of Otjinene, Leonardville and Witvlei are situated in the region. As of 2020, Omaheke had 48,594 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgalagadi District</span> District in Botswana

Kgalagadi is a district in southwest Botswana, lying along the country's border with Namibia and South Africa. The administrative center is Tsabong. The district of Kgalagadi covers a large part of the Kalahari Desert. It has a total area of 105,200 km2 and has a population of 42,000 (2001). More than one-third of the district is covered by the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which extends into South Africa, and which is a major tourist attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kang, Botswana</span> Village in Kgalagadi District of Botswana

Kang is a village in Kgalagadi District of Botswana. It is situated in the Kalahari Desert and lies on the Trans-Kalahari Highway between Ghanzi in the north and Sekoma in the south. Kang also provides access to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the south-west and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in the north-east. The route via Ghanzi takes one to the Namibian border, whilst that to Sekoma leads to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. The population was 5,985 according to the 2011 census. Kang also falls under the Kgalagadi North constituency whose Member of Parliament is Hon. Talita Monnakgotla. The village is divided into seven wards which are; Gasekgalo, Gamonyemana, Gamotshoto, Gapanyana, Gamoriti, Kaatshwene and Tshwaragano ward. The village is led by a female chief, Kgosi Basadi Seipone who is the daughter to the late former chief Churchill Pego Seipone who died in 2010. The village's key development areas include the Central Roads Depot, Central Transport Organisation, Airstrip/Landing ground, mini Rural Administration Centre/ Service Centre, Botswana Open University Regional Campus, Brigade Centre, Police Station, Health Clinic, Magistrate Court, Department Road Transport Service offices, Wildlife offices, Botswana Power Corporation Offices, Water Utilities Corporation offices, Facility Management offices, Senior Secondary, Junior Secondary School and two primary schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park</span> Transfrontier conservation area in Botswana and South Africa

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghanzi</span> Town in Ghanzi District, Botswana

Ghanzi is a town in the middle of the Kalahari Desert the western part of the Republic of Botswana in southern Africa. The region is the country's pride in contributing a large portion towards the beef industry. In fact, Ghanzi farmers provide about 75% percent of beef exports, according to the Botswana Meat Commission, primarily to the United Kingdom and the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-East District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

The North-East District is one of the administrative districts of Botswana. Its capital is Francistown. In 2011, North-East had a population of 60,264 people. The district is predominantly occupied by Kalanga-speaking people, the BaKalanga. The district is administered by a district administration and district council, which are responsible for local administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kweneng District</span> District in Botswana

Kweneng is one of the districts of Botswana and is the recent historical homeland of the Bakwena people, the first group in Botswana converted to Christianity by famed missionary David Livingstone. Various landmarks, including Livingstone's Cave, allude to this history. The seat of the district's government is Molepolole, Botswana's most populous village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-West District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

The North-West District or Ngamiland is one of the first-level administrative subdivisions of Botswana. For census and administrative purposes Ngamiland is subdivided into Ngamiland East, Ngamiland West and Ngamiland Delta (Okavango). It is governed by a District Commissioner, appointed by the national government, and the elected North-West District Council. The administrative centre is Maun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kgatleng District</span> District in Botswana

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South-East District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

Central is the largest of Botswana's districts in terms of area and population. It encompasses the traditional homeland of the Bamangwato people. Some of the most politically connected Batswana have come from the Central District, including former President Sir Seretse Khama, former President Festus Mogae, and former President Lt. General Seretse Ian Khama. The district borders the Botswanan districts of Chobe in the north, North-West in the northwest, Ghanzi in the west, Kweneng in southwest, Kgatleng in the south and North-East in the northeast, as well as Zimbabwe also in the northeast and South Africa in the southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of Botswana</span>

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Charles Hill is a village in Ghanzi District of Botswana. It is located close to the Namibian border. Charles Hill is the second-largest village in Ghanzi District, with a population of 3,591 in 2011 census.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethnic groups in Botswana</span>

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References

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  6. 1 2 "Census of Botswana, 2011". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. "Education details of Botswana, 2011". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2015. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  8. "Labour Force by industry in Botswana, 2008". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
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  10. "Regional and Local government in Botswana". Common Wealth of Nations. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  11. UN-HABITAT (2002). Local Democracy and Decentralization in East and Southern Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. p. 57. ISBN   9789211316667.
  12. Gaotlhobogwe, Monkagedi. "Botswana broken into 19 new sub-districts". MMegi Online. Retrieved 11 November 2016.