The University in Botswana and the liberation struggle in southern Africa (1973–1980)

Abstract

This article documents key aspects of the role played by university students in Botswana in the liberation struggle, from the early years of the University in the mid-1960s to the year of Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. Three demonstrations by University students are analysed, and the article concludes that, contrary to the received literature, the University contributed to the liberation struggle in a meaningful way. Although students at the University continued to play a part in the liberation struggle after 1980, this period is not discussed as the liberation struggle became just one of the key agenda items in a broadened political programme that focussed on local concerns of the students such as fees, allowances, institutional governance and democratisation.