President of Botswana

The President of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, according to the Constitution of Botswana.

President of the
Republic of Botswana
Presidential flag
Incumbent
Mokgweetsi Masisi
since 1 April 2018
Term length5 years, renewable once
Inaugural holderSeretse Khama
Formation30 September 1966
DeputyVice-President of Botswana
Salary65,760 USD annually[1]
Botswana
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Botswana
Constitution

The president is elected to a five-year term that runs concurrently with the term of the National Assembly. Since 1997, he has been limited to a total of 10 years in office (equivalent to two full terms), whether successive or separated. For example, if current president Mokgweetsi Masisi were to leave office in 2024, he could run again in 2029, but would have to leave office for good in 2034. Presidential elections are indirect; candidates for the legislature declare whom they endorse for president when they lodge their nomination papers, and the candidate who receives a majority of endorsements from the elected members of the National Assembly is automatically elected.[2][3][4] If no candidate receives a majority of endorsements, the National Assembly elects the president by simple majority, before it co-opts the specially elected members. If no president is elected after three ballots, or if the Speaker determines that no candidate has enough support to be elected, the legislature is automatically dissolved.[3] In practice, the president is the leader of the majority party in the Assembly.

Key
Political parties
Symbols
  • † Died in office

Presidents of Botswana (1966–present)
No. Picture Name
(Birth–Death)		 Elected Term of office Political Party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Seretse Khama
(1921–1980)		 1965
1969
1974
1979		 30 September 196613 July 1980[†] 13 years,

286 days

 BDP
2 Quett Masire
(1925–2017)		 1984
1989
1994		 18 July 198031 March 1998 17 years,

256 days

 BDP
3 Festus Mogae
(1939–)		 1999
2004		 1 April 19981 April 2008 10 years BDP
4 Ian Khama
(1953–)		 2009
2014		 1 April 20081 April 2018 10 years BDP
5 Mokgweetsi Masisi
(1961–)		 2019 1 April 2018Incumbent 1 year,

196 days

 BDP

Lifespan timeline of presidents of Botswana

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of presidents of Botswana. The presidents are listed in order of office.

Mokgweetsi MasisiIan KhamaFestus MogaeQuett MasireSeretse Khama

Footnotes

  1. "The highest and lowest paid African presidents - Business Daily".
  2. Chaudry, Serena (2009-10-18). "Botswana's President Khama wins new term". The Independent. Reuters.
  3. The President and Vice President. Chapter 4, Part I, Constitution of Botswana
  4. Ntuane, Batsalo. Democratic forces must safeguard presidential term limits Archived 2018-06-23 at the Wayback Machine. Mwegi, 2006-05-22.

See also

References

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