Bechuanaland /ˌbɛt͡ʃuˈɑːnəlænd/ noun1 •(historical) A former colony of the United Kingdom in Africa, which gained its independence in 1966 as Botswana.After independence, Rhodesia changed its name to Zimbabwe, Nyasaland to Malawi, and Bechuanaland to Botswana. — 2018