President of Botswana
President of the Republic of Botswana | |
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Presidential Flag | |
Residence | Presidential Palace |
Appointer | Parliament of Botswana |
Term length | 5 years, renewable once |
Inaugural holder | Seretse Khama |
Formation | 30 September 1966 |
Deputy | Vice-President of Botswana |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Botswana |
Constitution |
Government |
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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 Botswana Defence Force, according to the Constitution of Botswana.
The president is elected to a five-year term that runs concurrently with the term of the National Assembly. Since 1997, he has been limited to a total of 10 years in office (equivalent to two full terms), even if they are nonconsecutive. Candidates for the legislature declare whom they endorse for president when they lodge their nomination papers. The candidate who receives a majority of endorsements from the elected members of the National Assembly is automatically elected.[1][2][3] 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.[2] In practice, the president is the leader of the majority party in the Assembly.
Key
- Political parties
- Symbols
- † Died in office
Presidents of Botswana (1966–present)
№ | Picture | Name (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Took office | Left office | Political Party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Seretse Khama (1921–1980) |
1965 1969 1974 1979 |
30 September 1966 | 13 July 1980[†] | BDP | |
— | Quett Masire (1925–2017) Acting President[4] |
— | 13 July 1980 | 18 July 1980 | BDP | |
2 | Quett Masire (1925–2017) |
1984 1989 1994 |
18 July 1980 | 31 March 1998 | ||
3 | Festus Mogae (1939–) |
1999 2004 |
1 April 1998 | 1 April 2008 | BDP | |
4 | Ian Khama (1953–) |
2009 2014 |
1 April 2008 | Incumbent | BDP |
Lifespan timeline of Presidents of Botswana
This is a graphical lifespan timeline of Presidents of Botswana. The presidents are listed in order of office.
Footnotes
- ↑ Chaudry, Serena (2009-10-18). "Botswana's President Khama wins new term". The Independent. Reuters.
- 1 2 The President and Vice President. Chapter 4, Part I, Constitution of Botswana
- ↑ Ntuane, Batsalo. Democratic forces must safeguard presidential term limits. Mwegi, 2006-05-22.
- ↑ Acting after Khama died in office.