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Sorghum & Cowpeas. Though full independence is still a year away, tribesmen already revere Ruth as their first white First Lady. Modestly she smiles: "I am only the second lady. What about the Queen of England?" Quite right. For the moment Britain remains in effective control of Bechuanaland. When independence finally comes, Seretse expects to rename his country Bechuana and set about the enormous tasks ahead. His work is cut out for him. Texas-size, with a population of only 542,000, the country is mostly salt pan and desert, barely suitable for cattle grazing. In the east, near Francistown, Serowe and the tiny, torrid new capital of Gaberones, rainfall permits some crops, mostly maize, sorghum, cowpeas, pumpkins and tobacco. Only a single railroad, 394 miles long, and a highway connect the north and south of the protectorate. East-west roads branch off this central spine, but typically peter out into sand within 40 or 50 miles. A few mining companies are probing Bechuanaland's deposits of manganese, copper, silver and gold, but it will be years before they pay off—if they ever do.
More immediate is the question of Bechuanaland's relations with its neighbors. Hemmed in on all sides by white Africa (Rhodesia on the east and apartheid-minded South Africa and its South-West Africa dependency on the south, west and north), Bechuanaland is tied economically to the nations that every true black nationalist hates. With the two other British High Commission territories of Basutoland and Swaziland, Seretse's domain is joined with South Africa in a customs union, uses South African currency, and in the past has cooperated in transportation, trade, health and general development with Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd's regime. Indeed, some 30,000 Bechuanas depend on employment in the South African gold fields for a livelihood.
Seretse made it clear last week that he intends to walk the tightrope between white and black Africa. "We won't cut off economic relations with any country because of its politics," he explained. "Britain isn't keen on Communism, but she trades with Peking and Cuba. We don't like apartheid, but we will trade with South Africa." How about South Africa's feeling toward such a flagrant violator of apartheid'? Last week, after Seretse's victory, South Africa announced that the travel ban imposed after his marriage to Ruth had been lifted. Seretse received the news with a wry smile.