Botswana Independence Act 1966
An Act to make provision for, and in connection with, the establishment of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, under the name of Botswana, as an independent republic within the Commonwealth.
1 Establishment of Republic of Botswana.
On 30th September 1966 (in this Act referred to as “the appointed day”) the territory which immediately before that day constitutes the Bechuanaland Protectorate shall cease to be a protectorate and shall become an independent republic under the name of Botswana; and on and after that day Her Majesty shall have no jurisdiction over that territory.
2 Operation of existing law.
(1)
Subject to the following provisions of this Act, on and after the appointed day all law which, whether being a rule of law or a provision of an Act of Parliament or of any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, is in force on that day or has been passed or made before that day and comes into force thereafter, shall, unless and until provision to the contrary is made by Parliament or some other authority having power in that behalf, have the same operation in relation to Botswana, and persons and things belonging to or connected with Botswana, as it would have apart from this subsection if on the appointed day the Bechuanaland Protectorate had been renamed Botswana but there had been no change in its status.
(2)
Part I of the Schedule to this Act (which relates to enactments applicable to Commonwealth countries having fully responsible status) and Part II of that Schedule (which relates to enactments excepted from the operation of the preceding subsection) shall have effect on and after the appointed day in relation to the enactments therein mentioned; but that Schedule shall not extend to Botswana as part of its law.
(3)
Subsection (1) of this section applies to law of, or of any part of, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and, in relation only to any enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom or any Order in Council made by virtue of any such enactment whereby any such enactment applies in relation to the Bechuanaland Protectorate, to law of any other country or territory to which that enactment or Order extends.
3, 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
5—7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
8 Short title and interpretation.
(1)
This Act may be cited as the Botswana Independence Act 1966.
(2)
References in this Act to any enactment are references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment.
SCHEDULE AMENDMENTS NOT AFFECTING THE LAW OF BOTSWANA
Part I Extension of certain enactments applicable to Commonwealth Countries having fully responsible status
1
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2
In section 1(6) of the M1Diplomatic Immunities (Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland) Act 1952, before the words “and the Republic of Ireland” there shall be inserted the word “
Botswana
”
.
3
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Financial
4
In section 2 of the M2Import Duties Act 1958—
(a)
in subsection (4) before the words “together with” there shall be inserted the word “
Botswana
”
;and
(b)
in subsection (9) for the words “the Bechuanaland Protectorate”, in each place where they occur, there shall be inserted the word “
Botswana
”
.
Armed forces
5
In the definitions of “Commonwealth force” in section 225(1) of the M3Army Act 1955 and section 223(1) of the M4Air Force Act 1955, and in the definition of “Commonwealth country” in section 135(1) of the M5Naval Discipline Act 1957, at the end there shall be added the words “
or Botswana
”
.
6
In the M6Visiting Forces (British Commonwealth) Act 1933, section 4 (attachment and mutual powers of command) shall apply in relation to forces raised in Botswana as it applies in relation to forces raised in Dominions within the meaning of the M7Statute of Westminster 1931.
7
In the M8Visiting Forces Act 1952, in section 1(1)(a)
(countries to which that Act applies), at the end there shall be added the words “
Botswana or
”
, and, until express provision with respect to Botswana is made by Order in Council under section 8 of that Act (application to visiting forces of law relating to home forces), any such Order for the time being in force shall be deemed to apply to visiting forces of Botswana.
8
(1)
In section 84(2) of the M9Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (exclusion of application to visiting forces) before the words “and any country” there shall be inserted the word “
Botswana
”
.
(2)
In section 78(2) of the M10Offices and Shop Premises Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (exclusion of application to visiting forces) before the words “and any country” there shall be inserted the word “
Botswana
”
.
(3)
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Commonwealth Institute
9
In section 8(2) of the M11Imperial Institute Act 1925, as amended by the M12Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 (power to vary the provisions of the said Act of 1925 if an agreement for the purpose is made with the governments of certain territories which for the time being are contributing towards the expenses of the Commonwealth Institute) at the end there shall be added the words “and Botswana”.
Part II Exceptions from s. 2(1) of Act
10
Section 2(1) of this Act shall not apply to the M13Army Act 1955, the M14Air Force Act 1955 or the M15Naval Discipline Act 1957.
11
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