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Ghanzi (sometimes Gantsi) is a
district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivision ...
in western
Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kal ...
, bordering
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
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 Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of (larger than the Netherlands, and almost 10% of Botswana's total land area), making it the second largest game ...
. The human population at the 2001 census was 43,370, less populous than that of any other district in Botswana. Ghanzi's area is 117,910 kmĀ². In the west, Ghanzi borders the
Omaheke Omaheke ( hz, Sandveld) 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 vi ...
Region of
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
. Domestically, it borders the following districts: North-West on the north,
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
on the east, Kweneng on the southeast, Kgalagadi on the south. Ghanzi,
Central Kalahari Game Reserve Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of (larger than the Netherlands, and almost 10% of Botswana's total land area), making it the second largest game ...
, Deception Valley,
Ghanzi Craft 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 provides ...
,
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa. The park straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana and comprises two adjoining national parks: * Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in S ...
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. The total number of workers constituted 10,294 with 5,959 males and 4,335 females, with agriculture as the major occupation.


Geography

In the west, Ghanzi borders the
Omaheke Omaheke ( hz, Sandveld) 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 vi ...
Region of
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...
. Domestically, it borders the following districts: North-West on the north,
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
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 The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa extending for , covering much of Botswana, and parts of Namibia and South Africa. It is not to be confused with the Angolan, Namibian, and South African Namib coastal d ...
, 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 The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological Epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fina ...
, but currently provides a vast summer wetland to support tens of thousands of migrating
flamingo Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbea ...
s in the rainy summer season. 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 Ncojane or Nojane is a town in the Kalahari desert of Ghanzi District, western Botswana. It is located 20 kilometres from the border with Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western ...
has. Most part of Botswana has tableland slopes sliding from east to west. The region has an average elevation of around above the mean sea level. The vegetation type is
Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
, 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 , 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 flood A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, or tropical storm, or by meltwater from ice or snow flowing ...
s, being the most prominent. The tourist and game reserves in the region are Ghanzi,
Central Kalahari Game Reserve Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an extensive national park in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. Established in 1961 it covers an area of (larger than the Netherlands, and almost 10% of Botswana's total land area), making it the second largest game ...
, Deception Valley,
Ghanzi Craft 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 provides ...
,
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa. The park straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana and comprises two adjoining national parks: * Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in S ...
, Khutse Game Reserve and
Kuru Museum and Cultural Centre Kuru may refer to: Anthropology and history * Kuru (disease), a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy associated with the cannibalistic funeral practices of the Fore people * Kuru (mythology), part of Meithei mythology * Kuru Kingdom, ...
.


Demographics

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.


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. 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.


Administration

Botswana gained independence from the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
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. 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. 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. Charles Hill Sub-District, Ghanzi Sub-District are the two sub districts of the district.


See also

*
Nwetwe Pan The Ntwetwe Pan is a large salt pan within the Makgadikgadi region of Botswana. The Ntwetwe is one of three large pans within the Makgadikgadi, the other two being Nxai Pan and Sua Pan. Ntwetwe Pan is now a seasonal lake with filling occurri ...
*
Sub-districts of Botswana ] The districts of Botswana are subdivided into sub-districts. The sub-districts are listed below, by district: * Bobirwa, headquarters at Bobonong * Boteti, headquarters at Letlhakane * Lerala * Mahalapye * Mmadinare * Mmaphashalala * Mogoros ...


References

{{Authority control Ghanzi District, Districts of Botswana