President of Botswana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Botswana
Presidential flag
Incumbent Duma Boko since 1 November 2024
Style	Mr President His Excellency
Residence	State House
Seat	Gaborone
Appointer	Parliament of Botswana
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Botswana (1966)
Inaugural holder	Seretse Khama
Formation	30 September 1966; 58 years ago (1966-09-30)
Deputy	Vice-President of Botswana
Salary	P 1,075,056

The President of Botswana is a very important leader in the country of Botswana. This person is like the main boss of the country, leading both the government and the military. They are also known as the head of state and the head of government. The President is chosen by the National Assembly, which is a part of Botswana's Parliament. Usually, the leader of the political party that wins the most votes becomes President.

The rules say that a President can serve for two terms, and each term lasts five years. The very first President of Botswana was Sir Seretse Khama. He was Prime Minister before Botswana became fully independent in 1966, and then he became President until he passed away in 1980. Sir Seretse Khama's life story, including his fight against unfair rules, was even made into a movie called "A United Kingdom." The current President is Duma Boko, who was chosen by the National Assembly on November 1, 2024, after the country's general election. If the President's government loses the support of the National Assembly, they can be removed from office.

How Long Does a President Serve?

A President in Botswana serves for a five-year term. This term happens at the same time as the term for the members of the National Assembly. In the past, a President could be re-elected many times without a limit. But in 1997, when Quett Masire was President, new rules were made.

Since 1998, a President can only serve for a total of 10 years. This means they can have two full five-year terms. Festus Mogae was the first President who had to follow these new term limits. After serving his two terms, he left office in 2008. When a President finishes their time in office, they receive a pension.

How is the President Chosen?

When people vote in a general election for members of the National Assembly, the candidates also say who they want to be President. If one political party or a group of parties wins more than half of the seats in the National Assembly, their chosen leader automatically becomes the new President. This is how it has always worked in Botswana since the first general election in 1965.

Sometimes, no single party wins enough seats to have a clear majority. This is called a "hung parliament." If this happens, the members of the National Assembly vote for the President in a secret ballot. To win, a candidate needs more than half of the votes from the MPs. This special election is only for candidates whose party has at least 10 members in the National Assembly. If no one wins after three rounds of voting, the Speaker of the National Assembly can allow two more rounds. If there's still no winner, the National Assembly might be dissolved, and a new election would be held quickly.

The President needs to keep the support of the National Assembly to stay in power. If the majority of the National Assembly no longer trusts the President, they can vote to remove them. This is called a motion of no confidence. If this happens, the President might have to resign, or the Parliament could be dissolved, leading to a new election.

What Can the President Do?

The President of Botswana has many important jobs. They are the main leader of the country, the head of the government, and the top commander of the Botswana Defence Force. The rules for the President's duties and pay are written in the country's Constitution and other laws.

The President has the power to make many decisions for the country. They choose important officials, like the government ministers who help run different parts of the country, and the judges for the highest court. The President also talks with the Cabinet (the group of ministers) about important plans and decisions.

When the National Assembly passes a new law, the President can either approve it or say no to it. If the National Assembly passes the law again, the President must approve it or say no within 21 days. If they say no again, they might even dissolve the National Assembly, which would lead to a new election. The President also has the power to declare a state of emergency if there's a big crisis. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, or reduce their punishment, usually with advice from a special committee.

Past Presidents of Botswana

Political parties

     Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)      Botswana National Front (BNF)

Symbols

Died in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party (Coalition)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Seretse Khama (1921–1980)	1965 1969< 1974 1979	30 September 1966	13 July 1980	13 years, 287 days	BDP
2		Quett Masire (1925–2017)	1984 1989 1994	18 July 1980	31 March 1998	17 years, 256 days	BDP
3		Festus Mogae (born 1939)	1999 2004	1 April 1998	1 April 2008	10 years	BDP
4		Ian Khama (born 1953)	2009 2014	1 April 2008	1 April 2018	10 years	BDP
5		Mokgweetsi Masisi (born 1961)	2019	1 April 2018	1 November 2024	6 years, 214 days	BDP
6		Duma Boko (born 1969)	2024	1 November 2024	Incumbent	274 days	BNF (UDC)

Timeline of Presidents

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Botsuana para niños

• Politics of Botswana
• First Lady of Botswana
• Vice-President of Botswana