President of Botswana

President of the
Republic of Botswana
Presidential flag
Incumbent
Duma Boko

since 1 November 2024
StyleMr. President
(informal)
His Excellency
(formal, diplomatic)
Term length5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holderSeretse Khama
Formation30 September 1966
DeputyVice-President of Botswana
Salary65,760 USD annually[1]

The President of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana.

List of Presidents

Picture Name

(Birth–Death)

Term of office Term of office Political Party
Badimo c. 1470
Phatle
Malete
Lesokwana c. 1500
Mokgware
Digope
Dira
Mmusi
Maphalaola c. 1600
Maoke
Mongatane
Maio
Kgomo
Mokgwa c. 1700
Marumo c. 1780 1780

List of Presidents

No. Picture Name

(Birth–Death)

Term of office Notes
Mosime 1680 1700
Mothubane 1700 1700
Mokgwa 1730 1750
Taukbong 1750 1750
Mongala a Makaba 1750 1780
Pôwê I a Marumo 1780 1780
Mokgôjwe a Pôwê 1780 1780
Mathiba a Moleta 1780 1790
Makaba II a Moleta 1790 1795
Khama I a Mathiba 1795 1800
Motswasele II 1800 1800
Independent Griqua Kaptyns (1800–1871)
Adam Kok I 1800 1820
Andries Waterboer 1820 1852
Nicolaas Waterboer 1852 1865
Adam Kok III 1865 27 October 1871
British imperial rule (1871–1880)
Joseph Millerd Orpen 27 October 1871 10 January 1873
Richard Southey 10 January 1873 3 August 1875
William Owen Lanyon 3 August 1875 March 1879
James Rose Innes March 1879 15 October 1880
State of Goshen
1 Nicolaas Claudius Gey van Pittius 30 September 1881 13 July 1882
Stellaland
2 Gerrit Jacobus van Niekerk

Goshen

1882 1883
(1) Nicolaas Claudius Gey van Pittius 1883 1885
British Bechuanaland
John Mackenzie, Resident 1884 January 1885  
Sir Charles Warren, Special Commissioner, Military Commander 23 March 1885 24 September 1885
3 Frederick Carrington 1885 1885
24 September 1885 30 September 1885
30 September 1885 23 October 1885
4 Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard, Administrator 23 October 1885 1895
1885 1892
5 Sechele I 1892 1892
4 Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard 1892 1895
Khama III Boikanyo a Sekgoma 1895 1895
(30 September 1885 to 16 November 1885) Divided into British Bechuanaland Crown Colony (south) and Bechuanaland Protectorate (north)
Francis James Newton, Resident Commissioner 1895 1897  
Hamilton John Goold-Adams, Resident Commissioner 1897 1901  
Sir Ralph Champneys Williams, Resident Commissioner 1901 1906  
Francis William Panzera, Resident Commissioner 1906 1917  
Edward Charles Frederick Garraway, Resident Commissioner 1917 1917  
James Comyn Macgregor, Resident Commissioner 1917 1923  knighted during tenure
Sekgoma II a Kgama Leraraetsa 1923 1923
Jules Ellenberger, Resident Commissioner 1923 1928  
Gorewang a Khamane, Chairman of the Council of Regency 17 November 1925 19 January 1926
Rowland Mortimer Daniel, Resident Commissioner 1928 1930  
Charles Fernand Rey, Resident Commissioner 1930 1937  
Tshekedi Khama 1933 1933
Serogola a Gagoitsege 1933 1933
Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, Resident Commissioner 1937 1942  
Aubrey Denzil Forsyth-Thompson, Resident Commissioner 1942 1946  
Anthony Sillery, Resident Commissioner 1946 1950  
Seretse Khama 1950 1950
Edward Betham Beetham, Resident Commissioner 1950 1953  
Keabôka Kgamane 1953 1953
Martin Osterfield Wray, Resident Commissioner 1953 1953  
William Forbes Mackenzie, Resident Commissioner 1954 1959  
John Redcliffe Maud, Resident Commissioner 1959 1960  
Rrasebolai a Gorewang George 13 May 1953 May 1964
Peter Fawcus, Resident Commissioner 1960 1965  
Leeapeetswe a Tshêkêdi 1965 1965
Hugh Selby Norman-Walker, Commissioner 1965 30 September 1966 knighted during tenure


Presidents of Botswana (1966–present)

No. Picture Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political Party
1 Seretse Khama
(1921–1980)
1965
1969
1974
1979
30 September 1966 13 July 1980[†] BDP
Quett Masire
(1925–2017)
13 July 1980 13 July 1980 BDP
2 Quett Masire
(1925–2017)
1984
1989
1994
13 July 1980 31 March 1998 BDP
Lenyeletse Seretse
(1921–1983)
July 1980 3 January 1983[†] BDP
Peter Mmusi
(1929–1994)
3 January 1983 8 March 1992[2] BDP
Festus Mogae
(born 1939)
9 March 1992 31 March 1998 BDP
3 Festus Mogae
(1939–)
1999
2004
1 April 1998 1 April 2008 BDP
Ian Khama
(born 1953)
13 July 1998 1 April 2008 BDP
4 Ian Khama
(1953–)
2009
2014
1 April 2008 1 April 2018 BDP
Mompati Merafhe
(1936–2015)
1 April 2008 31 July 2012 BDP
Ponatshego Kedikilwe
(born 1938)
1 August 2012 12 November 2014 BDP
Mokgweetsi Masisi
(born 1961)
12 November 2014 1 April 2018 BDP
5 Mokgweetsi Masisi
(1961–)
2019 1 April 2018 1 November 2024 BDP
Slumber Tsogwane
(born 1960)
4 April 2018 1 November 2024 BDP
6 Duma Boko
(1969–)
2024 1 November 2024 Incumbent UDC
Ndaba Gaolathe
(born 1972)[3]
7 November 2024 Incumbent AP
(UDC)

References

  1. "The highest and lowest paid African presidents - Business Daily".
  2. Lansford, Tom (2 April 2012). Political Handbook of the World 2012. SAGE. ISBN 9781608719952 – via Google Books.
  3. Gaolathe, Ndaba. "Contact and Basic Info". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 30 March 2025.