This is a list of all the presidents who have served Botswana from 1966 till date, Including their terms in office, and political affiliations:
No. | Name | Term Start | Term End | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sir Seretse Khama | 30 September 1966 | 13 July 1980 | Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) |
2 | Quett Masire | 18 July 1980 | 31 March 1998 | BDP |
3 | Festus Mogae | 9 March 1998 | 31 March 2008 | BDP |
4 | Ian Khama | 1 April 2008 | 31 March 2018 | BDP |
5 | Mokgweetsi Masisi | 1 April 2018 | Present | BDP |
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How Long Is A Presidential Term In Botswana?
In Botswana, the President is elected by the National Assembly. According to the Constitution of Botswana, the President serves a term of five years. This term can be renewed once, so a President can serve for a total of ten years if re-elected.
Section 35, subsection 1 of the Constitution says that if the President dies, resigns, or leaves office for any reason, the Vice-President will take over as President. This change happens right away.
Section 35, subsection 2 says that if the President’s office is empty or if the President cannot do their job, the Vice-President will do the President’s job.
If there is no Vice-President or if the Vice-President cannot do the job, a Minister chosen by the National Assembly will take over the duties. Section 35, subsection 4 explains what happens if the President’s office becomes empty.
The National Assembly must meet within seven days to choose a new President. However, the Assembly will choose a new President in a special way set out by the law. They can be elected again for one more five-year term.
If the President’s office becomes empty for any reason, the Vice-President takes over until the National Assembly chooses a new President.
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Who Was Botswana’s First President?
Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama was Botswana’s first President. He was born on July 1, 1921, in Serowe, Bechuanaland, which is now called Botswana.
Khama was an important figure in Botswana’s history, serving as president from 1966 until he passed away in 1980. He came from the Khama dynasty. His grandfather, Khama III, was a popular chief who worked with British colonial powers in the late 19th century.
This family background gave Khama a unique place in Botswana’s politics, especially when the country was under British control during his early years.
Khama went to school in South Africa and later studied law at the University of Oxford in England. In 1948, he married Ruth Williams, a British woman.
Their marriage caused a lot of controversy because interracial marriages were not accepted in South Africa at that time.
Because of this, Khama was exiled from Bechuanaland, as the British government wanted to avoid problems with South Africa.
He came back to Bechuanaland in 1956 after giving up his chieftainship, which allowed him to start his political career. In 1962, Khama started the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The BDP became a strong political group in the country. After negotiating for independence, Botswana became a free country on September 30, 1966. Then the National Assembly elected Khama as the first president.
His presidency focused on creating a stable and democratic government. Khama was re-elected several times and served as president until he died in 1980.
As president, Khama introduced policies that changed Botswana from one of the poorest countries in the world into one of Africa’s success stories.
He worked on diversifying the economy and promoted industries like diamond mining, which became a big player in Botswana’s economy.
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Current President Of Botswana
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is the current President of Botswana. He was born on July 21, 1961, and became the fifth President of Botswana on April 1, 2018.
Mokgweetsi Eric started his political career as a Member of Parliament for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency in 2009. Masisi served as the Vice President of Botswana from November 12, 2014, until he became President in 2018.
He was appointed Vice President by the former President Ian Khama. Masisi was born in Gaborone and comes from a family active in politics.
His father, Edison Masisi, was a long-serving Member of Parliament and cabinet member. Mokgweetsi Masisi went to Thornhill Primary School and Maru-a-Pula School, where he was good at sports and acting.
He graduated from the University of Botswana in 1984 with a degree in English and History. Later, he earned a Master’s degree in social sciences education from Florida State University.
Before entering politics, Masisi worked as a teacher and helped develop school curriculums. Masisi’s rise in politics began with a close relationship with Ian Khama.
However, they had disagreements over several issues, including a ban on elephant hunting. After becoming President, Masisi faced challenges, such as claims of electoral fraud during the 2019 elections, which he won with 52.65% of the vote.
Despite these claims, international observers, including the African Union, said the elections were fair and transparent.
Masisi’s time as President has had both successes and criticisms. He has improved press freedom by passing the Media Practitioners’ Association Bill in 2022.
However, he has been criticized for not effectively handling youth unemployment and public infrastructure problems.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration declared a state of emergency, allowing him to rule by decree for a long time.
This decision was protested by opposition parties and civil society. As of 2024, Masisi is getting ready for re-election in a competitive political environment.