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President of Botswana

The President of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, according to the Constitution of Botswana.[2] Sir Seretse Khama was the prime minister from 1965 to 1966,[3] however he later became president of Botswana, and as of 2024 there have been no prime ministers since.[3]

President of the Republic of Botswana
Tautona wa Botswana
Presidential flag
Incumbent
Duma Boko
since 1 November 2024
StyleMr President
His Excellency
ResidenceState House
SeatGaborone
AppointerParliament of Botswana
Term length5 years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Botswana
Inaugural holderSeretse Khama
Formation30 September 1966
DeputyVice-President of Botswana
SalaryP 1,075,056[1]

Presidential term

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The president is elected to a five-year term that runs concurrently with the term of the National Assembly.[4] Previously, a president could be reelected any number of times. In 1997, under the second president, Quett Masire, term limits were imposed on the office for the first time.[5][6] Since 1998, the president has been limited to a total of 10 years in office (equivalent to two full terms), whether successive or separated.[6] The first president for whom the term limits applied was Festus Mogae, who was required to leave office for good in 2008.[7] Each president gets a guaranteed pension.[8]

Election

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The president is elected by the members of the National Assembly following a general election. All candidates for the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for president when they lodge their nomination papers, and the candidate who receives a majority of endorsements from the elected members of the National Assembly is automatically elected.[9][10][11] If no candidate receives a majority of endorsements, the National Assembly elects the president by simple majority, before it co-opts the specially elected members. If no president is elected after three ballots, or if the Speaker determines that no candidate has enough support to be elected, the legislature is automatically dissolved for fresh elections.[10] In practice, the president is the leader of the majority party or alliance in the Assembly.[12] Also, given the first-past-the-post system for the National Assembly, majority governments have been the rule in Botswana since independence.

Presidents of Botswana (1966–present)

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Political parties
  Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)
  Botswana National Front (BNF)
Symbols

† Died in office

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Elected[13][14] Term of office Political party
(Coalition)
Took office Left office Time in office
1   Seretse Khama
(1921–1980)[15][16] 		1965
1969
1974
1979 		30 September 1966[17] 13 July 1980[†][14] 13 years, 287 days BDP
2   Quett Masire
(1925–2017)[5] 		1984
1989
1994 		18 July 1980[14] 31 March 1998[14] 17 years, 256 days BDP
3   Festus Mogae
(born 1939)[18] 		1999
2004 		1 April 1998[19] 1 April 2008[20] 10 years BDP
4   Ian Khama
(born 1953)[21] 		2009
2014 		1 April 2008[22] 1 April 2018[23] 10 years BDP
5   Mokgweetsi Masisi
(born 1961)[24] 		2019 1 April 2018[25] 1 November 2024 6 years, 214 days BDP
6   Duma Boko
(born 1969) 		2024 1 November 2024[26] Incumbent 20 days BNF
(UDC)

Lifespan timeline of presidents of Botswana

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This is a graphical lifespan timeline of presidents of Botswana. The presidents are listed in order of office.

Duma BokoMokgweetsi MasisiIan KhamaFestus MogaeQuett MasireSeretse Khama

References

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  1. ^ "Salaries" (PDF). 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Botswana 1966 (rev. 2016) Constitution – Constitute". www.constituteproject.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Countries Ba-Bo". www.rulers.org. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Botswana: Freedom in the World 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b Padnani 2017.
  6. ^ a b "History". www.parliament.gov.bw. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  7. ^ Cook & Siegle.
  8. ^ "PRESIDENTS (PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS)". Botswana Laws. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  9. ^ Chaudry 2009.
  10. ^ a b "Constitution of Botswana 1966". www.commonlii.org. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ Ntuane 2006.
  12. ^ "About us". www.parliament.gov.bw. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  13. ^ "President Seretse Khama | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d "65. Botswana (1966–present)". uca.edu. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  15. ^ Zuber, David (4 April 2022). "Seretse Khama (1921–1980) •". Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  16. ^ "The "Unfortunate Marriage" of Seretse Khama | Inner Temple". www.innertemple.org.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Seretse Khama (1921–1980) | The Presidency". www.thepresidency.gov.za. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  18. ^ "President Festus Mogae". KnowBotswana. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  19. ^ Nkala, Gideon (31 March 2008). "Mogae: portrait of a democrat(Mogae Legacy)". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Reflections on a Presidency: 10 Years at Botswana's Helm | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Ian Khama (Seretse Khama Ian Khama) | Profile | Africa Confidential". www.africa-confidential.com. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Ian Khama". The Brenthurst Foundation. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  23. ^ "Human Rights Defender barred from entering Botswana". Civicus Monitor. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Botswana: Mokgweetsi Masisi takes over presidency – DW – 03/31/2018". dw.com. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Botswana swears in Mokgweetsi Masisi as president". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Duma Boko sworn in as Botswana's new president". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 1 November 2024.

Works cited

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See also

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