North-East District (Botswana)

North-East
District
Shashe River centre

Location within Botswana
Coordinates: 21°5′S 27°30′E / 21.083°S 27.500°E / -21.083; 27.500Coordinates: 21°5′S 27°30′E / 21.083°S 27.500°E / -21.083; 27.500
Country  Botswana
Capital Francistown
Area
 • Total 5,120 km2 (1,980 sq mi)
Population (2013 census)
 • Total 167,500
 • Density 33/km2 (85/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+2 (Central Africa Time)

The North-East District is one of the administrative districts of Botswana. Its capital is Francistown. In 2013, North-East had a population of 167,500 people. The North-East District is predominantly occupied by Kalanga speaking people (the BaKalanga).

In the north and east, North-East borders the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe with the border in the east predominantly the Ramokgwebana River Center. In the south and west, North-East District borders Central District and the border being the Shashe River Center.

The district is administered by a district administration and district council which are responsible for local administration. As of 2011, the total population of the district was 60,264 compared to 49,399 in 2001. The growth rate of population during the decade was 2.01. The total number of workers constituted 14,633 with 7,134 males and 7,498 females.

Geography

Francis town from the space

Most part of Botswana has tableland slopes sliding from east to west. The region has an average elevation of around 915 m (3,002 ft) above the mean sea level. The vegetation type is Savannah, with tall grasses, bushes and tress. The annual precipitation is around 65 cm (26 in), most of which is received during the summer season from November to May. Most of the rivers in the region are seasonal, with Limpopo River, which are prone to flash floods, being the most prominent.[1] There are conflicts between agricultural expansion and protection of indigenous wildlife within the Central District. There are several seasonal rivers in the district which flows in the rainy season reach the Makgadikgadi Pans.[2]

The Nata River flows through the North-East District and is a significant gathering place for wildlife including birds.[3] The Nata River continues to flow to the Makgadikgadi Pans, where it discharges.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
198136,636—    
199143,354+18.3%
200149,399+13.9%
201160,264+22.0%
Sources:[5]

As of 2011, the total population of the district was 60,264 compared to 49,399 in 2001. The growth rate of population during the decade was 2.01. The population in the district was 2.98 per cent of the total population in the country. The sex ratio stood at 90.30 for every 100 males, compared to 88.29 in 2001. The average house hold size was 3.11 in 2011 compared to 4.55 in 2001. There were 2,426 craft and related workers, 593 clerks, 3,485 people working in elementary occupation 273 Legislators, Administrators & managers 660 Plant & machine operators and assemblers, 331 professionals, 1,247 service workers, shop & market sales workers, 444 skilled agricultural & related workers 730 technicians and associated professionals, making the total work force to 10,243.[5]

Education and economy

Francis Town bus station

As of 2011, there were a total of 66 schools in the district, with 6.70 per cent private schools. The total number of students in the Council schools was 24,296, while it was 1,277 in private schools. The total number of students enrolled in the district was 25,572: 12,564 girls and 13,008 boys. The total number of qualified teachers was 1,058, 841 female and 217 male. There were around 34 temporary teachers, 19 male and 53 female. There were no untrained teachers in the district.[6]

As of 2006, 6,881 were involved in agriculture, 1,529 in construction, 1,161 in education, 73 in electricity and water, 61 in finance, 288 in health, 187 in hotels and restaurants, 434 in manufacturing, 784 in mining and quarrying, 97 in other community services, 206 in private households, 1,211 in public administration, 271 in real estate, 156 in transport and communications, and 1,294 in wholesale and retail trade. The total number of workers was 14,633, 7,134 male and 7,498 female.[7]

District administration

When Botswana gained independence from the British in 1966, they adapted the colonial administration framework to form its district administration. The policies were modified between 1970 and 1974 to address impediments to rural development.[8]

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. The technical services wing of the Department of Local Government is responsible for developing roads and the infrastructure in villages such as water supply, schools and recreational facilities.[9] All the staff of the local administration except District Administrator are selected via Unified Local Government Services (ULGS) and the Ministry of Local Government is responsible for their training, deployment and career development.[10]

Francistown Subdistrict and North East Subdistrict are the two sub-districts in the North-East District. In the 2011 Census forty-three villages were listed for the district: Botalaote, Butale, Ditladi, Gambule, Gulubane, Gungwe, Jackalas 1, Jackalas No 2, Kalakamati, Kgari, Letsholathebe, Mabudzane, Makaleng, Mambo, Mapoka, Masingwaneng, Masukwane, Masunga, Maitengwe, Matopi, Matshelagabedi, Matsiloje, Mbalambi, Moroka, Mosojane, Mowana, Mulambakwena, Nlakhwane, Patayamatebele, Pole, Ramokgwebana, Sechele, Sekakangwe, Senyawe, Shashe Bridge, Siviya, Tati Siding, Themashanga, Toteng, Tsamaya, Tshesebe, Vukwi and Zwenshambe.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Singh (2011). Geography. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. p. 12.53. ISBN 978-0-07-107480-3.
  2. ↑ Petter, Jan; Hansen, Huberth; Lillethun, Arvid. Resource utilization in the Central District CFDA, Botswana: with special reference to arable farming systems and conflicts in resource management - livestock versus wildlife.
  3. ↑ Cashdan, Elizabeth (1986). "Competition between Foragers and Food-Producers on the Botletli River, Botswana". Journal of the International African Institute. 56 (3): 299–318.
  4. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (2008). Burnham, Andy, ed. Makgadikgadi. The Megalithic Portal.
  5. 1 2 "Census of Botswana, 2011". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "Education details of Botswana, 2011". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2015. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Labour Force by industry in Botswana, 20006". Central Statistics Office of Botswana. 2008. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Picard, Louis A. "Rural Development in Botswana: Administrative Structures and Public Policy". The Journal of Developing Areas. Louis A. Picard. 13 (3). JSTOR 4190662.
  9. ↑ "Regional and Local government in Botswana". Common Wealth of Nations. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Kinuthia-Njenga, Cecilia; et al. (2002). Local Democracy and Decentralization in East and Southern Africa: Experiences from Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. Nairobi, Kenya: Global Campaign on Urban Governance, United Nations Human Settlements Programme. p. 57. ISBN 978-92-1-131666-7.
  11. ↑ "2011 Botswana Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Botswana Central Statistics Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
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