Bechuanaland Flag

The flag of the protectorate of Bechuanaland. This was a state of the British protectorate since March 31, 1885 to September 30, 1966, when the territory became independent as the Republic of Botswana. Bechuanaland means "Land of the Bechuana" (with handwriting modern Batswana or Tswana). The Bechuanaland was divided into two parts. The southern region, known as British Bechuanaland, became part of the Cape Province and currently is part of South Africa. The protectorate of Bechuanaland corresponded to the north, to which were attached additional territories in 1890. Originally, the eastern regions of the protectorate were claimed from Matabeleland.