British Bechuanaland [SEP] dissolved or abolished
British Bechuanaland
British Bechuanaland was a short-lived Crown colony of the United Kingdom that existed in southern Africa from its formation on 1 Sep 1885 until its annexation to the neighbouring Cape Colony on 16 Nov 1895. British Bechuanaland had an area of and a population of 84,210. Today the region forms part of South Africa.
History.
Bechuanaland meant "the country of the Tswana", and for administrative purposes was divided into two political entities. The northern part was administered as the Bechuanaland Protectorate and southern part,
1910 to 1931. The British government appointed the Governor-General as High Commissioner under a separate commission. In addition to responsibility for Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland, he held reserve powers concerning the interests of the native population of Southern Rhodesia. The post was abolished on 1 August 1964.
The high commission territories.
The high commissioner was responsible for governing the following territories, in each case represented by a resident commissioner:
- Basutoland, gained independence as Lesotho on 4 October 1966
- Bechuanaland, gained independence