The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established on 31 March 1885, by the United Kingdom in southern Africa. It became the Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966. History Bechuanaland meant the country of the Bechuana (now written Batswana or Tswana). The Bechuanaland Protectorate eventually became divided into two. The southern part, south of the Molopo River became the crown colony known as British Bechuanaland, later became part of the Cape Colony and's now in South Afric… (More on Bechuanaland)