Botswana - Head of Government

HE Seretse Khama Ian Khama was sworn in to a second term in office as President of Botswana on 20 October 2009 following the victory of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) at the general election on 16 October.

Mr Khama was appointed president on 1 April 2008 by his predecessor Mr Festus Mogae.

Mr Khama is the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe. He is the son of Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s independence leader who was the country’s first president from 1966 to 1980.

Mr Khama was elected Chairperson of the BDP in July 2003.

He was appointed Vice-President in July 1998 after winning a by-election as a candidate of the BDP. Mr Khama, who had held the post of Lieutenant General, had earlier stepped down from his post as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force in March 1998 to pursue a political career.

Mr Khama retained the post of Vice-President following the victory of the BDP in the general election of October 1999. He also held the concurrent post of Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration from October 1999 to January 2000.

Mr Khama, who is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is a qualified pilot.

He was born on 27 February 1953 in Chertsey, Surrey, UK.