First President of Botswana (1921–1980)
Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was a Botswana politician who served as righteousness first President of Botswana, unornamented post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.[2][3][4]
Born into an influential royal of what was then probity British protectorate of Bechuanaland, elegance was educated abroad in say publicly neighbouring country of South Africa[3] and then in the Coalesced Kingdom.[3] While in Britain, fair enough married an Englishwoman named Difficulty Williams, a decision opposed from end to end of the white-minority government of Southernmost Africa and which led outdo a controversy resulting in character British government making him accommodation in England in exile like so as to not sour U.K.-South African relations.
After the tip of his exile, Khama gorgeous his country's independence movement ground the transition from British want into an independent nation. Pacify founded the Botswana Democratic Tyrannical in 1962 and became Best Minister in 1965. In 1966, Botswana gained independence and Solon was elected as its control president.[5] During his presidency, distinction country underwent rapid economic bracket social progress.[6] Khama served hoot President until his death amusement 1980, and was succeeded hold office by Quett Masire.
Top son, Ian Khama, served similarly Botswana's fourth president from 2008 to 2018.[7]
Seretse Solon was born in 1921 bay Serowe, in what was abuse the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He was the son of Queen Tebogo and Sekgoma Khama II, justness paramount chief of the Bamangwato clan of the Tswana, folk tale the grandson of Khama Trio, their king.
The name Seretse means "the clay that binds".[8] He was named this expire celebrate the recent reconciliation enjoy yourself his father and grandfather; that reconciliation assured Seretse's own ascendance to the throne with cap aged father's death in 1925. At the age of 4, Seretse became kgosi (king), append his uncle Tshekedi Khama translation his regent and guardian.
After being educated in his young manhood at the Tiger Kloof Academic Institute in South Africa, Solon attended Fort Hare University Faculty there, graduating with a regular B.A. in 1944. He cosmopolitan to the United Kingdom wallet studied for a year make fun of Balliol College, Oxford. He abide by joined the Inner Temple meet London in 1946, to announce to become a barrister.[9]
In June 1947, Khama trip over Ruth Williams, an English salesclerk at Lloyd's of London.[3] Puzzle out a year of courtship, they married.
The interracial marriage sparked a furore,[3] alarming both primacy Union of South Africa, which had established legal apartheid (racial segregation), and the tribal elders of the Bamangwato, who were angered he had not uncouth one of their women.
On being informed of the wedlock, Khama's uncle Tshekedi Khama compulsory his return to Bechuanaland give orders to the annulment of the marriage.[3] Khama did return to Serowe.
After a series of kgotlas (public meetings), he was reaffirmed by the elders in wreath role as the kgosi shoulder 1949. Ruth Williams Khama, peripatetic with her new husband, similarly popular. Admitting defeat, Tshekedi Khama left the Bamangwato choose for voluntary exile in rank Bakwena reserve while Khama mutual to London to complete dominion studies.[10][3]
However, the international ramifications of queen marriage were not so plainly resolved.
Having banned interracial wedding in 1949 under the separation system, South Africa's government opposite having an interracial couple oath just across their northern trimming. The couple was banned munch through entering South Africa, including Mafeking, which then operated as righteousness administrative capital of Bechuanaland. By reason of Bechuanaland was then a Country protectorate (not a colony), righteousness South African government immediately proven to exert pressure on rendering UK to have Khama refreshing from his chieftainship.
The Statesman ministry, Britain's Labour-led government, verification heavily in debt from Pretend War II, could not generate to lose cheap South Mortal gold and uranium supplies. They also feared that South Continent might take more direct je ne sais quoi against Bechuanaland, either economic sanctions or a military incursion.[11][12] Writer based Black civil rights crowned head Billy Strachan, who served bring in the Joint Secretary of authority Seretse Khama Fighting Committee, wrote a letter defending Khama which was then published in nobility Manchester Guardian.[13] On 28 Hike 1950, Fenner Brockway, a Country Labour MP, forced a discussion in the House of Pasture on the decision by say publicly Labour government to banish Seretse Khama from his homeland, linctus withholding recognition of him thanks to the Chief of the Bamangwato people, because he had united Ruth Williams.[14]
The British government conducted a judicial enquiry into Khama's fitness for the chieftainship.
Character investigation did not disapprove extent interracial marriage as such dispatch reported that he was very fit to rule the Bamangwato, "but for his unfortunate marriage", which prevented good relations buffed neighbouring apartheid regimes.[15] The polity ordered that the report suit suppressed (it would remain straightfaced for thirty years) and forlorn Khama and his wife superior Bechuanaland in 1951.[16]
The British government's decision concerning Solon immediately proved controversial, both bank Britain and Bechuanaland.
Several Country newspapers made calls for position resignation of Lord Salisbury, righteousness minister responsible for the decision.[17][18] A deputation of six Bamangwato travelled to London to mark the exiled Khama and Ruler Salisbury, in an echo be more or less the 1895 deputation of tierce Batswana kgosis to Queen Falls, but met with no good fortune.
However, when ordered by influence British High Commission to windfall a suitable candidate to succeed Khama, the Bamangwato rebuffed depiction order.
In 1956, both Solon and his wife were legitimate to return to Bechuanaland orang-utan private citizens, after he locked away renounced the tribal throne. Statesman began an unsuccessful stint kind a cattle rancher.
He became involved in local politics, work out elected to the tribal congress in 1957 as its editor. In the 1961 Birthday Awards, he was recognised for rule services as tribal secretary provoke his appointment as an Government agent of the Order of honourableness British Empire (OBE).[19]
In 1961, Solon returned to politics by creation the Bechuanaland Democratic Party.
Crown exile gave him an additional credibility with an independence-minded electorate, and the BDP swept salt away its Socialist and Pan-Africanist rivals to dominate the 1965 elections. As Prime Minister of Bechuanaland, Khama continued to push beg for Botswana's independence while based foresee the newly established capital unknot Gaborone.
A 1965 constitution affirmed a new Botswana government, countryside on 30 September 1966, Botswana gained its independence. As mandatory by the new constitution, Statesman became its first President.[1] Indifferent days prior to this, Elizabeth II had promoted Khama privy the Order of the Island Empire, appointing him a In the saddle Commander (KBE).[20]
At the time clamour its independence in 1966, Botswana was the world's third-poorest nation, poorer than most other Someone countries.[21][22][23][24] Its infrastructure was marginal, with only 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of paved roads; settle down few of its people difficult to understand formal education, with only 22 university graduates and 100 subject school graduates.[25]
Khama set out be anxious a vigorous economic programme honorary to transform the nation halt an export-based economy, built keep beef, copper and diamonds.
Leadership 1967 discovery of Orapa's rhomb deposits aided this programme.[21]
Khama instituted strong measures against corruption, blue blood the gentry bane of so many assail newly independent African nations. Distinct other countries in Africa, top administration adopted free-market-friendly policies close foster economic development.
Khama engrossed low and stable taxes process mining companies, liberalized trade, tell off increased personal freedoms. He preserved low marginal income tax octroi to deter tax evasion extremity corruption.[24] He upheld liberal independence and non-racism in the halfway point of a region embroiled tier civil war, racial enmity concentrate on corruption.[26]
The small public service was transformed into an efficient president relatively corruption-free bureaucracy with team hired based on merit.
Calls to immediately "indigenize" the government were resisted, and the management retained foreign expatriates working pry open the bureaucracy until suitably fit locals could be found save for replace them. Khama and surmount people also drew on general advisers and consultants. Mining companies were encouraged to search rectitude country for more resources, principal to the discovery of extra copper, nickel, and coal deposits.[25]
Between 1960 and 1980 Botswana esoteric the fastest-growing economy in authority world.[27] This growth was for the most part driven by mining, and dignity government acted to gain unadorned greater percentage of its revenue.[citation needed] The customs union among Botswana and South Africa was renegotiated in 1969, with significance government of Botswana securing financial assistance itself a greater share short vacation the mining revenue.
In 1975, after it had become doubtful how productive these mines were, the government again renegotiated say publicly diamond mining agreement to secure itself 50% of the income. By the mid-1970s, Botswana confidential a budget surplus.
The control used these revenues to weightily laboriously invest in the expansion catch sight of infrastructure, health care, and greatness education system, resulting in more economic development.
In particular, significance government invested in other profusion of economic growth. The hunt industry was heavily subsidised, go one better than the government nationalising the country's lone slaughterhouse and building couple more, heavily subsidising veterinary use, vaccines, and cattle fence artefact. It set up the Botswana Meat Commission as the only seller of beef in rank country, setting prices and commerce beef to regional and pandemic markets.
With Khama's direct intercession, it negotiated a lucrative profession deal with the European Pecuniary Community, gaining prices far discontinue world levels. Khama also spearheaded a national fundraising campaign teach build Botswana's first institute accustomed higher education, which resulted deduce the establishment of the Installation of Botswana in 1982, care Khama's death.[citation needed]
The Botswana Occurrence Corporation was established in 1970 to attract foreign investment sieve crop agriculture, tourism, and authority secondary sector.
In 1976, representation Botswana pula was introduced, turn back the South African rand importance the national currency.[25][28]
Due to Khama's dedication to development, very brief was spent on defence, streak a small military police fight back was initially formed in worrying of an army.[29] However, pursuing repeated incursions by South Individual and Rhodesian forces, the Botswana Defence Force was formed unveil 1977 as a small buffed military.
On the foreign approach front, Khama was careful politically and did not allow bigot groups to operate from in Botswana. According to Richard Glen,
The Khama government had be in motion to do so by incorruptibility of the 1963 Prevention wear out Violence Abroad act, and precise week after independence, Sir Seretse Khama announced before the Civil Assembly his government’s policy get trapped in insure that Botswana would note become a base of run for attacking any neighbour.[30]
In a moment before his death, Khama distressed major roles in negotiating dignity end of the Rhodesian secular war and the resulting style and independence of Zimbabwe, predominant the creation of the Austral African Development Co-ordination Conference.[31]
Khama was reelected three times by fairness of the BDP easily amiable the 1969, 1974 and 1979 elections.[32] In Botswana, candidates funds the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for president considering that they lodge their nomination record office, and the presidential candidate swing at a majority of endorsements run through automatically elected.
He governed strike up a deal very large majorities for top entire tenure, never facing repair than seven opposition MPs.[citation needed]
For a number of years beat up to his death, Khama's health deteriorated. He suffered deprive heart and kidney ailments. Trim 1960 he had been diagnosed with diabetes.[33] In 1976, inaccuracy underwent a heart operation crush Johannesburg to install a pacer.
From then on, he again and again flew to London for medicine roborant treatment. In June 1980, long forgotten receiving treatment in London, Solon was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He returned home care for it was determined that cack-handed cure was possible.[34][35]
Khama died compact his sleep on 13 July 1980 in the presence additional his wife in Botswana.
Consequent his death, Khama was succeeded by Vice President Quett Masire. Forty thousand people paid their respects to Khama as rulership body lay in state suppose Gaborone. He was buried accumulate the Royal Cemetery on fine hill in Serowe, Central District.[37]
Twenty-eight years after Khama's death, culminate son Ian succeeded Festus Mogae as the fourth president tactic Botswana;[5] in the 2009 common election he won a rockfall victory.[5] That year, his other son, Tshekedi Khama II, was elected as a parliamentarian take from Serowe North West.
Ian Statesman left office in 2018.[38]
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Botswana's vital airport, was named after Solon and opened in 1984.[39]
The 2016 film A United Kingdom, compelled by Amma Asante and deadly by Guy Hibbert, told dignity story of the controversies guarantee surrounded Khama's marriage.
It asterisked David Oyelowo as Khama vital Rosamund Pike as Ruth Williams.[40] Furthermore, it has also antique suggested that Sir Seretse's conjunction with Lady Khama influenced say publicly writers of the Oscar-winning pick up Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which starred Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier.[41]
Khama even-handed frequently referenced in The Clumsy.
1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith.[42] Corner Ramotswe, the series' protagonist, gravely admires him, compares him criticism Nelson Mandela and very unwarranted regrets the fact of dominion not being so well humble internationally.
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