Botswana’s president serves as the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Since 1966, there have been no prime ministers, as Sir Seretse Khama transitioned from prime minister to president.
Presidents serve five-year terms alongside the National Assembly, with a 10-year limit introduced in 1997 under Quett Masire. Festus Mogae was the first president to follow these term limits, leaving office in 2008.
The president is chosen by the National Assembly after general elections, usually as the leader of the majority party. Majority governments have been the norm since Botswana gained independence.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Benin Presidents From 1990 Till Date
Complete List Of Botswana Presidents From 1966 Till Date
No. | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party (Coalition) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Seretse Khama | 30 September 1966 | 13 July 1980 | BDP |
2 | Quett Masire | 18 July 1980 | 31 March 1998 | BDP |
3 | Festus Mogae | 1 April 1998 | 1 April 2008 | BDP |
4 | Ian Khama | 1 April 2008 | 1 April 2018 | BDP |
5 | Mokgweetsi Masisi | 1 April 2018 | 1 November 2024 | BDP |
6 | Duma Boko | 1 November 2024 | Incumbent | BNF (UDC) |
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Algerian Presidents
Who Was The First President In Botswana?
Seretse Khama was the first president of Botswana, leading the country from its independence in 1966 until he died in 1980. Born on July 1, 1921, in Serowe, he came from a royal family and was the grandson of Kgosi Khama III, a popular chief of the Bamangwato tribe.
After his father, Sekgoma II, passed away in 1925, Seretse became chief at the age of four, with his uncle Tshekedi acting as regent while he was still a child. Seretse Khama started his education at the Tiger Kloof Educational Institute in South Africa.
He later attended the University of Fort Hare, earning a Bachelor’s degree in 1944. He went on to study law at Balliol College, Oxford, and the Inner Temple in London.
While in London, Seretse met and married Ruth Williams, an Englishwoman, in 1948. Their interracial marriage caused controversy, especially in South Africa, where apartheid laws were in place.
Because of political pressure, the British government exiled him from Bechuanaland in 1950. After years of negotiations, he was allowed to return in 1956 but had to give up his position as chief.
Seretse soon became a key political figure, founding the Bechuanaland Democratic Party in 1962. His leadership guided Bechuanaland to independence, and in 1965, he became Prime Minister.
When Botswana gained independence on September 30, 1966, Seretse Khama became its first president. During his presidency, Botswana experienced notable growth.
The discovery of diamonds brought economic success, and Seretse prioritized education, making it free for all. He also encouraged a democratic and peaceful political system, which included people from different ethnic backgrounds.
His leadership helped Botswana become one of the most stable and prosperous countries in Africa. Unfortunately, Seretse Khama passed away in 1980.
READ ALSO: Complete List Of Cameroon Presidents
Who Is The Current President of Botswana?
Duma Boko is the new president of Botswana, taking office on November 1, 2024. For the first time since Botswana gained independence in 1966, the president is not from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Boko’s election is a historic moment for the nation, as it ends almost six decades of rule by the BDP. Born on January 1, 1970, Duma Gideon Boko is a highly educated human rights lawyer.
He studied at Harvard Law School and has spent many years in opposition politics. In 2010, he became the leader of the Botswana National Front (BNF). Two years later, he formed a coalition of opposition parties called the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
Boko served as the leader of the Opposition in Botswana’s National Assembly from 2014 to 2019. Over the years, he has been a strong advocate for democratic reforms and human rights. The general elections on October 30, 2024, were a turning point for Botswana.
Boko’s UDC coalition won a surprising victory, securing 36 out of 61 parliamentary seats. The BDP, which had dominated politics for decades, won only four seats. After his party’s success, Boko was sworn in as president on November 1.
His formal inauguration ceremony on November 8 was attended by thousands, including dignitaries from nearby countries. In his first speech as president, Boko stressed the importance of democracy and unity.
He expressed pride in the peaceful transition of power and acknowledged former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s contributions. Boko promised to focus on issues that matter most to citizens, like reducing poverty and creating jobs. He called this the start of a new era for Botswana.
READ ALSO: List Of Zambian Presidents Since Independence
Who Is The Vice President Of Botswana?
The current Vice President of Botswana is Ndaba Gaolathe. He took office on November 7, 2024, shortly after Duma Boko was elected as President.
This was a big change in Botswana’s politics because they represented the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which won the election and ended the long-time rule of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Ndaba Gaolathe was born in 1971 and studied at George Washington University in the United States. Before he entered politics, he was an economist and had several jobs, working as a special assistant to a World Bank adviser in Namibia.
Gaolathe started his political career with the BDP, but he left the party in 2010 because he did not agree with its direction. He was one of the people who created the UDC. In addition to being Vice President, Gaolathe is also the Minister of Finance.
His experience in economics is expected to help him make good decisions to address Botswana’s economic problems. As Vice President, Gaolathe wants to help Botswana grow through solid economic policies.
He cares about involving local communities and has worked on projects related to education and empowerment. His family has a history of political involvement, his father was once the country’s finance minister.
