Flying Mission Services Location

Flying Mission Services Location

Flying Mission serves the people of Botswana from two locations: the capital Gaborone in the south, and Maun in the north. Flying Mission Care Ministries, Flying Mission Services, along with Flying Mission’s Head office are all based in Gaborone. From Maun, Flying Mission Services operates an aircraft charter service.

Botswana Profile

‘Facts & Figures’ about Botswana (from the World Fact Book, November 2013, UNDP Development Report 2013 and Operation World 2010)

  • In the UN Human Development Index, 118 countries are better off than Botswana; 69 are worse off.
  • 2.1 million people live here and 33% are under 15 years of age.
  • Life expectancy is 54 years and 5% die before they reach 5 years of age
  • 25% of adults are living with HIV/AIDS (2nd highest prevalence in the world)
  • More than 40 languages are spoken; Setswana and English are the official languages.
  • Major religions: Christianity 66%; Traditional Beliefs 33%,
  • GDP per person is US$17,100 and unemployment runs at 15.8%; 47% of Batswana live below the national poverty line.

In 1966, when Botswana/Bechuanaland received its independent from the UK, it was classified as one of the ten poorest countries in the world. Today it is considered a middle income country having had one of the fastest growing economies in Africa mainly a result of the exploitation of its rich mineral wealth such as diamonds. Despite its great success there is a large disparity between rich and poor with the income of the richest 20% of the population equalling around 60% of the total population income.  Some commentators suggest that more needs to be done to diversify the economy if growth is to be maintained once their mineral reserves decline.

The HIV and AIDS pandemic began to spread in Botswana in the 1980s and as a direct result, life expectancy quickly dropped from 67 yrs to 42 yrs. With government and NGO programmes seeking to tackle the issue and with provision of free anti-retroviral medication (treats symptoms and halts progress of HIV and AIDS) life expectancy has increased but Botswana still has the 2nd highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS of any country in the world, including 120,000 AIDS orphans (below 17yrs of age) which is about 5% of its population.

After over 150 years of having the gospel, the old tribal worldviews and beliefs remain strong and often spiritually unchallenged. It is impossible to neatly categorise the religious sentiments and views of the people of Botswana. Many adhere to both Christian and animist views. Nominalism is high in the country.