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White people in Botswana

White people in Botswana are Batswana whose ancestry lies historically within the continent of Europe, most notably the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and, more recently, directly from Serbia and other southern African nations.

White Africans account for around 3% of the country's population.

Botswana became a British protectorate in 1885 and gained independence as a Commonwealth nation in 1966. White settlers in Botswana, mainly Afrikaners and a small number of English-speakers, began arriving in the 1860s and primarily settled on farms near the South African border. The White population in Botswana never exceeded 3,000 individuals. The English spoken by the local population is influenced by South African dialects.

The present white population in Botswana is significantly smaller compared to its neighboring countries, with a considerable portion being non-permanent residents. This demographic trend is a result of Botswana's unique history as a protectorate rather than a colony. Many white Batswana can trace their ancestry back to colonial immigrants who arrived during British rule, although the majority are now citizens of Botswana rather than British. This demographic is typically affluent, with a significant number owning and operating their own businesses.

The White population usually speak Afrikaans, with a small Serbian community in the country's capital. The Afrikaner population is centred around farming communities in the Ghanzi Region (descendants of the Dorsland Trekkers). After the Zimbabwean Land Reforms, a number of Anglo-Zimbabwean farmers moved to Botswana (as well as South Africa and Zambia) to start new lives.

History

European conquerors began to invade what is today the nation of Botswana in the 19th century. The Dorsland Trek in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw thousands of Boers invade from South Africa to present-day Namibia by way of Botswana. Many of these people stayed, especially in Ghanzi, which is in the Kalahari Desert. White people in Botswana are primarily of Boer/Afrikaner descent, but smaller numbers are also of British/Rhodesian ancestry as well. These people entered territories already richly inhabited by indigenous Africans without the assent of the native people, and their aggressive, acquisitive behavior caused warfare between themselves and the indigenous peoples, and intertribal clashes that led to millions of deaths of the original inhabitants.

Additionally, there is a fairly significant Serbian community in the country, mainly families of immigrants from Yugoslavia who came beginning in the 1950s. There is a Serbian Society in Gaborone, which regularly hosts a variety of cultural events. In 2016 construction began on the first Serbian Orthodox church in Botswana, the St. Nicholas Church.

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church operates in Gaborone.