Seretse Khama

Seretse Khama (July 1, 1921 - July 13, 1980) was the first President of Botswana. He is internationally remembered for bringing peace and prosperity to the formative years of his nation.

Return to politics

The sentence would not last nearly so long. Nationalist, communist, and human rights groups around the world immediately protested Parliament?s decision, holding it up as evidence of British racism. In 1956, the government finally relented, allowing Seretse and Ruth Khama to return to Bechuanaland as private citizens. Seretse Khama began an unsuccessful stint as a cattle rancher and dabbled in local politics. In 1960 he was diagnosed with diabetes.

Related Topics:
Nationalist - Communist - Human rights - Racism - Cattle - Diabetes

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In 1961, however, Seretse Khama leapt back onto the political scene by founding the nationalist Bechuanaland Democratic Party. His exile gave him an increased credibility with an independence-minded electorate, and the BDP swept aside its Socialist and Pan-Africanist rivals to dominate the 1965 elections. Now Prime Minister of Bechuanaland, Seretse Khama continued to push for Botswanan independence from the newly-established capital of Gaborone. A 1965 constitution delineated a new Botswanan government, and on September 30, 1966, Botswana gained its independence with Seretse Khama acting as its first President.

Related Topics:
Bechuanaland Democratic Party - Socialist - Pan-Africanist - Prime Minister of Bechuanaland - Gaborone - September 30 - 1966

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