Ian Khama

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Sertésê Khama (born 27 February 1953) is a Motswana politician and former military officer who served as Botswana's fourth President from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018.

After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force from 1998 to 2008, he became involved in politics and served as Vice President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008.

He served a full term in the 2009 election and was re-elected in October 2014.

Early life

Ian Khama is Botswana's second child and president from 1966 to 1980. He was born in Chertsey, Surrey, when his father was living in exile in the United Kingdom due to the colonial government's retaliation and the emergence of a racist dictatorship in South Africa, leading to his marriage to a white woman.

He was also the grandson of Sekgoma II (1869-1935), who was the principal chief of the Bamangwa people, and Khama III (1837–1923), their king. Kgosikgolo Sekgoma I, the great-grandfather of the Bamangwa people (1815-1855). "Seretse" means "the clay that binds together," and was given to his father to mark his father's recent return to the throne when his aged father died in 1925. Ian Sema was chosen after his father's to pass on this cultural legacy. To distinguish himself and his father, Ian Khama is also identified as Ian Khama. Tshekedi Khama, Ian Khama's brother, was named after their great uncle, Tshekedi Khama, who was Sekheki Khama's regent and guardian, Botswana's first president.

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Education and military career

Ian Khama was educated at Waterford Kamhlaba, a United World College in Mbabane, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He is a licensed pilot. Khama was appointed as a brigadier general at the age of 24 by Sir Sedo Khama's Presidency in April 1977, making him the Deputy Commander to late former Vice President Lt. Gen. Merafhe. He served as the Commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) from 1989 until 1998, retiring from the position in 1998. Khama received military trophies during this time, including the Founder Officer Medal for being part of the Botswana Defence Force when it was established in 1977, the Service Code Order for service, and the Distinguished Service Medal in 1997 after 20 years of service.

Political career

Khama, the Botswana Defence Force's Commander, announced on December 16, 1997, that he would resign from his command on March 31. Khama was fueled by political rumors on the same day as President Quett Masire's announced retirement date. Khama was voted as the new Vice President on April 1, 1998, when Vice President Festus Mogae replaced Masire as President. However, Khama did not have a seat in the National Assembly and so did not have a right to serve as Vice President immediately. He overwhelmingly won a by-election in Serowe North in early July 1998, receiving 2,986 votes against the opposition Botswana National Front's 86 percent. On July 13, he assumed his position in the National Assembly and was elected Vice President. He effectively ended his hitherto unclaimed hereditary chieftaincy by taking part in party politics by these events. Be that as it may, many traditional Bamangwato continue to recognise him as their chief.

Khama served as Vice President and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration after the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won the general election in October 1999. Khama will complete his one-year suspension later this year, a decision that the opposition Botswana Congress Party and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organizations have slammed. Khama's resignation became effective on January 1, 2000. On September 1, 2000, he returned to his positions as Vice President, although he was appointed as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration at the time.

Khama, a founding member of the BDP Central Committee, was elected Chairman of the BDP in July 2003 at a party congress; he overthrew former Chairman Ponatshego Kedikilwe, who received 512 votes against 219 for Kedikilwe. Khama had been supported for the post by President Mogae, allowing Khama to take power.

Khama appeared on British television in the BBC's Top Gear motoring show in 2007, greeting the presenters as they prepared to cross the Makgadikgadi Pan in northern Botswana by car.

Ian Khama was summoned by the justice of his country in April 2022. Among other things, the former governor of the state has been charged with unlawful possession of a pistol. The lawsuit dates back to 2016.

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