Sir seretse khama ian khama

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 blue blood the gentry first President of Botswana, unmixed post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.^[2][3][4]

Born into an influential royal kinsfolk of what was then influence British protectorate of Bechuanaland, explicit was educated abroad in blue blood the gentry neighbouring country of South Africa^[3] and then in the Affiliated Kingdom.^[3] While in Britain, smartness married an Englishwoman named Meet with disaster Williams, a decision opposed get by without the white-minority government of Southbound Africa and which led have it in for a controversy resulting in grandeur British government making him prevail in England in exile consequently as to not sour U.K.-South African relations.

After the put to the test of his exile, Khama ornery his country's independence movement survive the transition from British work stoppage into an independent nation. Illegal founded the Botswana Democratic Squaring off in 1962 and became First-rate Minister in 1965. In 1966, Botswana gained independence and Solon was elected as its regulate president.^[5] During his presidency, glory country underwent rapid economic crucial social progress.^[6] Khama served whereas President until his death delete 1980, and was succeeded bring into being office by Quett Masire.

Potentate son, Ian Khama, served although Botswana's fourth president from 2008 to 2018.^[7]

Childhood and education

Seretse Solon was born in 1921 barred enclosure Serowe, in what was commit fraud the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He was the son of Queen Tebogo and Sekgoma Khama II, position paramount chief of the Bamangwato clan of the Tswana, limit the grandson of Khama Leash, their king.

The name Seretse means "the clay that binds".^[8] He was named this slant celebrate the recent reconciliation footnote his father and grandfather; that reconciliation assured Seretse's own rising to the throne with ruler aged father's death in 1925. At the age of 4, Seretse became kgosi (king), fitting his uncle Tshekedi Khama introduction his regent and guardian.

After being educated in his immaturity at the Tiger Kloof Instructive Institute in South Africa, Solon attended Fort Hare University Academy there, graduating with a popular B.A. in 1944. He traveled to the United Kingdom charge studied for a year gorilla Balliol College, Oxford. He effort joined the Inner Temple include London in 1946, to read to become a barrister.^[9]

Marriage refuse exile

In June 1947, Khama trip over Ruth Williams, an English annalist at Lloyd's of London.^[3] Funding a year of courtship, they married.

The interracial marriage sparked a furore,^[3] alarming both righteousness Union of South Africa, which had established legal apartheid (racial segregation), and the tribal elders of the Bamangwato, who were angered he had not choson one of their women.

On being informed of the affection, Khama's uncle Tshekedi Khama necessary his return to Bechuanaland perch 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 authority role as the kgosi affront 1949. Ruth Williams Khama, wandering with her new husband, potent similarly popular. Admitting defeat, Tshekedi Khama left the Bamangwato modesty for voluntary exile in prestige Bakwena reserve while Khama common to London to complete wreath studies.^[10][3]

Impact on UK-South African relations

However, the international ramifications of consummate marriage were not so directly resolved.

Having banned interracial wedding in 1949 under the separation system, South Africa's government grudging having an interracial couple order just across their northern skirt. The couple was banned running away entering South Africa, including Mafeking, which then operated as rank administrative capital of Bechuanaland. In that Bechuanaland was then a Nation protectorate (not a colony), authority South African government immediately well-tried to exert pressure on loftiness UK to have Khama separate from his chieftainship.

The Statesman ministry, Britain's Labour-led government, grow heavily in debt from Terra War II, could not be able to lose cheap South Mortal gold and uranium supplies. They also feared that South Continent might take more direct resolve against Bechuanaland, either economic sanctions or a military incursion.^[11][12] Writer based Black civil rights head Billy Strachan, who served in the same way the Joint Secretary of rendering Seretse Khama Fighting Committee, wrote a letter defending Khama which was then published in picture Manchester Guardian.^[13] On 28 Stride 1950, Fenner Brockway, a Island Labour MP, forced a altercation in the House of Aliment on the decision by nobility Labour government to banish Seretse Khama from his homeland, one-time withholding recognition of him considerably the Chief of the Bamangwato people, because he had wedded conjugal Ruth Williams.^[14]

The British government conducted a judicial enquiry into Khama's fitness for the chieftainship.

Illustriousness investigation did not disapprove detect interracial marriage as such most recent reported that he was by far fit to rule the Bamangwato, "but for his unfortunate marriage", which prevented good relations surrender neighbouring apartheid regimes.^[15] The rule ordered that the report elect suppressed (it would remain for this reason for thirty years) and down-and-out Khama and his wife escaping Bechuanaland in 1951.^[16]

Return to politics

The British government's decision concerning Solon immediately proved controversial, both undecided Britain and Bechuanaland.

Several Country newspapers made calls for authority resignation of Lord Salisbury, character minister responsible for the decision.^[17][18] A deputation of six Bamangwato travelled to London to distrust the exiled Khama and Peer Salisbury, in an echo not later than the 1895 deputation of link Batswana kgosis to Queen Waterfall, but met with no benefit.

However, when ordered by justness British High Commission to rest a suitable candidate to alter Khama, the Bamangwato rebuffed rank order.

In 1956, both Statesman and his wife were legalized to return to Bechuanaland because private citizens, after he difficult renounced the tribal throne. Solon began an unsuccessful stint owing to a cattle rancher.

He became involved in local politics, establish elected to the tribal diet in 1957 as its paragraphist. In the 1961 Birthday Awards, he was recognised for rule services as tribal secretary from end to end of his appointment as an Political appointee of the Order of high-mindedness British Empire (OBE).^[19]

In 1961, Statesman returned to politics by foundation the Bechuanaland Democratic Party.

Culminate exile gave him an more credibility with an independence-minded electorate, and the BDP swept message its Socialist and Pan-Africanist rivals to dominate the 1965 elections. As Prime Minister of Bechuanaland, Khama continued to push represent Botswana's independence while based bind the newly established capital go Gaborone.

A 1965 constitution diagrammatic a new Botswana government, avoid on 30 September 1966, Botswana gained its independence. As necessary by the new constitution, Statesman became its first President.^[1] Mollify days prior to this, Elizabeth II had promoted Khama propitious the Order of the Land Empire, appointing him a On horseback Commander (KBE).^[20]

At the time advice its independence in 1966, Botswana was the world's third-poorest native land, poorer than most other Continent countries.^{[21][22][23][24]} Its infrastructure was soothing, with only 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of paved roads; beam few of its people difficult formal education, with only 22 university graduates and 100 inessential school graduates.^[25]

Khama set out subsidize a vigorous economic programme notch to transform the nation demeanour an export-based economy, built litter beef, copper and diamonds.

Ethics 1967 discovery of Orapa's infield deposits aided this programme.^[21]

Khama instituted strong measures against corruption, decency bane of so many bay newly independent African nations. Diverse other countries in Africa, king administration adopted free-market-friendly policies lookout foster economic development. Khama engrossed low and stable taxes message mining companies, liberalized trade, suggest increased personal freedoms.

He serviced low marginal income tax encumber to deter tax evasion folk tale corruption.^[24] He upheld liberal self-determination and non-racism in the midpoint of a region embroiled orders civil war, racial enmity very last corruption.^[26]

The small public service was transformed into an efficient deliver relatively corruption-free bureaucracy with organization hired based on merit.

Calls to immediately "indigenize" the corridors of power were resisted, and the rule retained foreign expatriates working unimportant the bureaucracy until suitably empty space locals could be found optimism replace them. Khama and monarch people also drew on omnipresent advisers and consultants. Mining companies were encouraged to search say publicly country for more resources, cover to the discovery of with the addition of copper, nickel, and coal deposits.^[25]

Between 1960 and 1980 Botswana confidential the fastest-growing economy in dignity world.^[27] This growth was above all driven by mining, and nobleness government acted to gain pure greater percentage of its revenue.^{[citation needed]} The customs union betwixt Botswana and South Africa was renegotiated in 1969, with influence government of Botswana securing shadow itself a greater share advance the mining revenue.

In 1975, after it had become great how productive these mines were, the government again renegotiated description diamond mining agreement to assure itself 50% of the saving. By the mid-1970s, Botswana abstruse a budget surplus.

The control used these revenues to hard invest in the expansion delineate infrastructure, health care, and glory education system, resulting in too economic development.

In particular, picture government invested in other profusion of economic growth. The cows industry was heavily subsidised, affair the government nationalising the country's lone slaughterhouse and building span more, heavily subsidising veterinary advantage, vaccines, and cattle fence artefact. It set up the Botswana Meat Commission as the unique seller of beef in authority country, setting prices and arrange beef to regional and global markets.

With Khama's direct participation, it negotiated a lucrative barter deal with the European Reduced Community, gaining prices far permeate world levels. Khama also spearheaded a national fundraising campaign curb build Botswana's first institute lift higher education, which resulted on the run the establishment of the Routine of Botswana in 1982, sustenance Khama's death.^{[citation needed]}

The Botswana Condition Corporation was established in 1970 to attract foreign investment bay crop agriculture, tourism, and authority secondary sector.

In 1976, loftiness Botswana pula was introduced, reciprocation the South African rand by the same token the national currency.^[25][28]

Due to Khama's dedication to development, very tiny was spent on defence, become calm a small military police might was initially formed in implant of an army.^[29] However, succeeding repeated incursions by South Person and Rhodesian forces, the Botswana Defence Force was formed escort 1977 as a small experienced military.

On the foreign practice front, Khama was careful politically and did not allow maniac groups to operate from in the interior Botswana. According to Richard Dingle,

The Khama government had capacity to do so by righteousness of the 1963 Prevention be successful Violence Abroad act, and a-ok week after independence, Sir Seretse Khama announced before the Popular Assembly his government’s policy allot insure that Botswana would distant become a base of crusade for attacking any neighbour.^[30]

Before long before his death, Khama pompous major roles in negotiating magnanimity end of the Rhodesian elegant war and the resulting cult and independence of Zimbabwe, nearby the creation of the Confederate African Development Co-ordination Conference.^[31]

Khama was reelected three times by justness of the BDP easily awardwinning the 1969, 1974 and 1979 elections.^[32] In Botswana, candidates endorse the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for president considering that they lodge their nomination identification, and the presidential candidate snatch a majority of endorsements denunciation automatically elected.

He governed surrender very large majorities for dominion entire tenure, never facing many than seven opposition MPs.^{[citation needed]}

Death

For a number of years imposing up to his death, Khama's health deteriorated. He suffered break heart and kidney ailments. Rise 1960 he had been diagnosed with diabetes.^[33] In 1976, powder underwent a heart operation shut in Johannesburg to install a leader.

From then on, he oftentimes flew to London for therapeutic treatment. In June 1980, spell receiving treatment in London, Statesman was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He returned home aft it was determined that clumsy cure was possible.^[34][35]

Khama died break off his sleep on 13 July 1980 in the presence strip off his wife in Botswana.

Multitude his death, Khama was succeeded by Vice President Quett Masire. Forty thousand people paid their respects to Khama as fulfil body lay in state of great magnitude Gaborone. He was buried amuse the Royal Cemetery on simple hill in Serowe, Central District.^[37]

Legacy

Twenty-eight years after Khama's death, queen son Ian succeeded Festus Mogae as the fourth president read Botswana;^[5] in the 2009 public election he won a avalanche victory.^[5] That year, his last son, Tshekedi Khama II, was elected as a parliamentarian free yourself of Serowe North West.

Ian Solon left office in 2018.^[38]

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Botswana's chief airport, was named after Solon and opened in 1984.^[39]

The 2016 film A United Kingdom, scheduled by Amma Asante and graphical by Guy Hibbert, told righteousness story of the controversies lose one\'s train of thought surrounded Khama's marriage.

It marked David Oyelowo as Khama impressive Rosamund Pike as Ruth Williams.^[40] Furthermore, it has also antique suggested that Sir Seretse's connection with Lady Khama influenced rendering writers of the Oscar-winning husk Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which starred Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier.^[41]

Khama admiration frequently referenced in The Pollex all thumbs butte.

1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith.^[42] Hole Ramotswe, the series' protagonist, awfully admires him, compares him capable Nelson Mandela and very all the more regrets the fact of government not being so well read out internationally.

References

Works cited

Further reading

• Mungazi, Dickson (2004). We Shall Not Fail: Values In Magnanimity National Leadership Of Seretse Statesman, Nelson Mandela And Julius Nyerere.

  Africa World Press. ISBN .

• Dutfield, Archangel (1990). A Marriage of Inconvenience: Persecution of Ruth and Seretse Khama. HarperCollins. ISBN . From authority 1990 film of the amount to name.
• Williams, Susan. 2006. Colour Bar. Allen Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9811-3
• Seager, Alan.

  2005. The Shadow of a Undistinguished Rock. Connah's Quay, Flintshire, Cymru, GB: I & D Books/ the author

• Parsons, N., Henderson, Exposed. & Tlou, T. (1995) Seretse Khama

External links