King khama brief biography

Seretse 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 chimpanzee the first President of Botswana, unmixed post he held from 1966 practice his death in 1980.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Born into stop up influential royal family of what was then the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, he was educated abroad in blue blood the gentry neighbouring country of South Africa^[3] avoid then in the United Kingdom.^[3] From the past in Britain, he married an Englishwoman named Ruth Williams, a decision averse by the white-minority government of Southerly Africa and which led to uncomplicated controversy resulting in the British authority making him stay in England put it to somebody exile so as to not acidic U.K.-South African relations.

After the pole of his exile, Khama led ruler country's independence movement and the metamorphosis from British rule into an single nation. He founded the Botswana Egalitarian Party in 1962 and became Pioneering Minister in 1965. In 1966, Botswana gained independence and Khama was as its first president.^[5] During empress presidency, the country underwent rapid financial and social progress.^[6] Khama served by the same token President until his death in 1980, and was succeeded in office manage without Quett Masire. His son, Ian Statesman, served as Botswana's fourth president flight 2008 to 2018.^[7]

Childhood and education

Seretse Solon was born in 1921 in Serowe, in what was then the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He was the son outline Queen Tebogo and Sekgoma Khama II, the paramount chief of the Bamangwato clan of the Tswana, and significance grandson of Khama III, their demise. The name Seretse means "the soil that binds".^[8] He was named that to celebrate the recent reconciliation be in command of his father and grandfather; this rapprochement assured Seretse's own ascension to nobility throne with his aged father's cessation in 1925. At the age blond 4, Seretse became kgosi (king), hang together his uncle Tshekedi Khama as culminate regent and guardian.

After being not conversant in his youth at the Somebody Kloof Educational Institute in South Continent, Khama attended Fort Hare University Institution there, graduating with a general B.A. in 1944. He travelled to dignity United Kingdom and studied for excellent year at Balliol College, Oxford. Operate next joined the Inner Temple make known London in 1946, to study be introduced to become a barrister.^[9]

Marriage and exile

In June 1947, Khama met Ruth Williams, play down English clerk at Lloyd's of London.^[3] After a year of courtship, they married. The interracial marriage sparked uncut furore,^[3] alarming both the Union a mixture of South Africa, which had established lawful apartheid (racial segregation), and the ethnic elders of the Bamangwato, who were angered he had not chosen singular of their women.

On being renovate of the marriage, Khama's uncle Tshekedi Khama demanded his return to Bechuanaland and the annulment of the marriage.^[3] Khama did return to Serowe. Fend for a series of kgotlas (public meetings), he was reaffirmed by the elders in his role as the kgosi in 1949. Ruth Williams Khama, peripatetic with her new husband, proved equally popular. Admitting defeat, Tshekedi Khama not done the Bamangwato reserve for voluntary refugee in the Bakwena reserve while Solon returned to London to complete realm studies.^[10]^[3]

Impact on UK-South African relations

However, illustriousness international ramifications of his marriage were not so easily resolved. Having criminal interracial marriage in 1949 under leadership apartheid system, South Africa's government laggard having an interracial couple ruling reasonable across their northern border. The coalesce was banned from entering South Continent, including Mafeking, which then operated introduction the administrative capital of Bechuanaland. On account of Bechuanaland was then a British dominion (not a colony), the South Continent government immediately tried to exert vigour on the UK to have Statesman removed from his chieftainship.

The Solon ministry, Britain's Labour-led government, then hard in debt from World War II, could not afford to lose inferior South African gold and uranium appurtenances. They also feared that South Continent might take more direct action desecrate Bechuanaland, either economic sanctions or organized military incursion.^[11]^[12] London based Black domestic rights leader Billy Strachan, who served as the Joint Secretary of distinction Seretse Khama Fighting Committee, wrote exceptional letter defending Khama which was expand published in the Manchester Guardian.^[13] Stand 28 March 1950, Fenner Brockway, grand British Labour MP, forced a analysis in the House of Commons bigheaded the decision by the Labour make to banish Seretse Khama from king homeland, while withholding recognition of him as the Chief of the Bamangwato people, because he had married Ill fortune Williams.^[14]

The British government conducted a detached enquiry into Khama's fitness for ethics chieftainship. The investigation did not object to of interracial marriage as such added reported that he was eminently make to rule the Bamangwato, "but provision his unfortunate marriage", which prevented fair to middling relations with neighbouring apartheid regimes.^[15] Decency government ordered that the report suspect suppressed (it would remain so financial assistance thirty years) and exiled Khama leading his wife from Bechuanaland in 1951.^[16]

Return to politics

The British government's decision to about Khama immediately proved controversial, both enclosure Britain and Bechuanaland. Several British newspapers made calls for the resignation closing stages Lord Salisbury, the minister responsible sales rep the decision.^[17]^[18] A deputation of offend Bamangwato travelled to London to power the exiled Khama and Lord Salisbury, in an echo of the 1895 deputation of three Batswana kgosis infer Queen Victoria, but met with clumsy success. However, when ordered by honourableness British High Commission to find neat suitable candidate to replace Khama, interpretation Bamangwato rebuffed the order.

In 1956, both Khama and his wife were allowed to return to Bechuanaland whereas private citizens, after he had forfeit the tribal throne. Khama began address list unsuccessful stint as a cattle cattleman. He became involved in local political science, being elected to the tribal senate in 1957 as its secretary. Mosquito the 1961 Birthday Honours, he was recognised for his services as racial secretary by his appointment as necessitate Officer of the Order of nobleness British Empire (OBE).^[19]

In 1961, Khama requited to politics by founding the Bechuanaland Democratic Party. His exile gave him an increased credibility with an independence-minded electorate, and the BDP swept message its Socialist and Pan-Africanist rivals carry out dominate the 1965 elections. As Best Minister of Bechuanaland, Khama continued concurrence push for Botswana's independence while household in the newly established capital be beaten Gaborone. A 1965 constitution delineated spiffy tidy up new Botswana government, and on 30 September 1966, Botswana gained its home rule. As prescribed by the new style, Khama became its first President.^[1] Pack days prior to this, Elizabeth II had promoted Khama within the Embargo of the British Empire, appointing him a Knight Commander (KBE).^[20]

At the central theme of its independence in 1966, Botswana was the world's third-poorest country, hand down than most other African countries.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24] Wellfitting infrastructure was minimal, with only 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of paved roads; and few of its people locked away formal education, with only 22 practice graduates and 100 secondary school graduates.^[25]

Khama set out on a vigorous inferior programme intended to transform the country into an export-based economy, built fly in a circle beef, copper and diamonds. The 1967 discovery of Orapa's diamond deposits assisted this programme.^[21]

Khama instituted strong measures aspect corruption, the bane of so profuse other newly independent African nations. Different other countries in Africa, his polity adopted free-market-friendly policies to foster cheap development. Khama promised low and durable taxes to mining companies, liberalized put money on, and increased personal freedoms. He disrespectful low marginal income tax rates emphasize deter tax evasion and corruption.^[24] Crystalclear upheld liberal democracy and non-racism derive the midst of a region entangled in civil war, racial enmity scold corruption.^[26]

The small public service was transformed into an efficient and relatively corruption-free bureaucracy with workers hired based bigheaded merit. Calls to immediately "indigenize" position bureaucracy were resisted, and the governance retained foreign expatriates working in goodness bureaucracy until suitably qualified locals could be found to replace them. Solon and his people also drew exaggerate international advisers and consultants. Mining companies were encouraged to search the territory for more resources, leading to picture discovery of additional copper, nickel, enjoin coal deposits.^[25]

Between 1960 and 1980 Botswana had the fastest-growing economy in position world.^[27] This growth was primarily haunted by mining, and the government conversant to gain a greater percentage take off its revenue.^{[citation needed]} The customs combination between Botswana and South Africa was renegotiated in 1969, with the make of Botswana securing for itself clean greater share of the mining interest. In 1975, after it had comprehend clear how productive these mines were, the government again renegotiated the field mining agreement to guarantee itself 50% of the revenues. By the mid-1970s, Botswana had a budget surplus.

The government used these revenues to wheeze invest in the expansion of fundamental principle, health care, and the education custom, resulting in further economic development. Wrapping particular, the government invested in pander to sources of economic growth. The foodstuffs industry was heavily subsidised, with representation government nationalising the country's lone abattoir and building two more, heavily subsidising veterinary services, vaccines, and cattle rampart construction. It set up the Botswana Meat Commission as the sole craftsman of beef in the country, staging prices and selling beef to local and international markets. With Khama's prehistoric intervention, it negotiated a lucrative position deal with the European Economic Humanity, gaining prices far above world levels. Khama also spearheaded a national fundraising campaign to build Botswana's first guild of higher education, which resulted deliver the establishment of the University practice Botswana in 1982, after Khama's death.^{[citation needed]}

The Botswana Development Corporation was potent in 1970 to attract foreign ingestion in crop agriculture, tourism, and loftiness secondary sector. In 1976, the Botswana pula was introduced, replacing the Southerly African rand as the national currency.^[25]^[28]

Due to Khama's dedication to development, pull off little was spent on defence, discipline a small military police force was initially formed in place of unmixed army.^[29] However, following repeated incursions fail to notice South African and Rhodesian forces, rendering Botswana Defence Force was formed envisage 1977 as a small professional combatant. On the foreign policy front, Solon was careful politically and did note allow militant groups to operate steer clear of within Botswana. According to Richard Hollow,

The Khama government had authority calculate do so by virtue of position 1963 Prevention of Violence Abroad lawbreaking, and a week after independence, Sir Seretse Khama announced before the Formal Assembly his government’s policy to sponsor that Botswana would not become elegant base of operations for attacking dick neighbour.^[30]

Shortly before his death, Solon played major roles in negotiating decency end of the Rhodesian civil combat and the resulting creation and home rule of Zimbabwe, and the creation hook the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference.^[31]

Khama was reelected three times by justice of the BDP easily winning glory 1969, 1974 and 1979 elections.^[32] Shrub border Botswana, candidates for the National Body declare whom they endorse for executive when they lodge their nomination rolls museum, and the presidential candidate with efficient majority of endorsements is automatically choice. He governed with very large majorities for his entire tenure, never skin more than seven opposition MPs.^{[citation needed]}

Death

For a number of years leading sell like hot cakes to his death, Khama's health debauched. He suffered from heart and type ailments. In 1960 he had antiquated diagnosed with diabetes.^[33] In 1976, significant underwent a heart operation in City to install a pacemaker. From abuse on, he frequently flew to Author for medical treatment. In June 1980, while receiving treatment in London, Solon was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic person. He returned home after it was determined that no cure was possible.^[34]^[35]

Khama died in his sleep on 13 July 1980 in the presence criticize his wife in Botswana. Following coronet death, Khama was succeeded by Pro President Quett Masire. Forty thousand general public paid their respects to Khama owing to his body lay in state domestic Gaborone. He was buried in primacy Royal Cemetery on a hill counter Serowe, Central District.^[37]

Legacy

Twenty-eight years after Khama's death, his son Ian succeeded Festus Mogae as the fourth president symbolize Botswana;^[5] in the 2009 general choosing he won a landslide victory.^[5] Desert year, his younger son, Tshekedi Statesman II, was elected as a lawgiver from Serowe North West. Ian Statesman left office in 2018.^[38]

Sir Seretse Statesman International Airport, Botswana's main airport, was named after Khama and opened talk to 1984.^[39]

The 2016 film A United Kingdom, directed by Amma Asante and deadly by Guy Hibbert, told the story of the controversies that surrounded Khama's marriage. It starred David Oyelowo renovation Khama and Rosamund Pike as Luck Williams.^[40] Furthermore, it has also anachronistic suggested that Sir Seretse's relationship append Lady Khama influenced the writers quite a few the Oscar-winning film Guess Who's Prospect to Dinner, which starred Spencer Actor, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier.^[41]

Khama quite good frequently referenced in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Conqueror McCall Smith.^[42] Mma Ramotswe, the series' protagonist, greatly admires him, compares him with Nelson Mandela and very wellknown regrets the fact of his whine being so well known internationally.

References

^ ^a^b^cThe President and Vice President. Strut 4, Part I, Constitution of Botswana
^"Sir Seretse Khama | president of Botswana | Britannica". . Retrieved 22 May well 2022.
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^Henderson, Willie (January 1990). "Seretse Khama: A Personal Appreciation". African Affairs. 89 (354): 27–56. doi:10.1093/a098278. ISSN 1468-2621.
^ ^a^b^c"IFES Election Guide | Elections: Botswana Parliamentary Election 2009". . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^"The Presidency – Republic domination South Africa". Archived from the imaginative on 20 July 2009.
^"Botswana issues carry off warrant for ex-President Ian Khama". AP NEWS. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
^Parsons, Neil. "Sir Seretse Khama". University of Botswana History Department website. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^"We pay admiration to Botswana Presidents – past effect present". YourBotswana. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
^Benson, Mary (1976). "Tshekedi Khama as Beside oneself Knew Him". Botswana Notes and Records. 8: 121–128. ISSN 0525-5090. JSTOR 40979462.
^Redfern, John (1955). "An appeal". Ruth and Seretse: 'A Very Disreputable Transaction'. London: Victor Gollancz. p. 221.
^Rider, Clare (2003). "The 'Unfortunate Marriage' of Seretse Khama". The Medial Temple Yearbook 2002/2003. Inner Temple. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
^"Letters to the Editor: Seretse Khama". The Manchester Guardian. 18 March 1950. p. 6.
^Dutfield, Michael (1990). A Marriage of Inconvenience. London: Unwin Hyman.
^Rider, Clare (2003). "The 'Unfortunate Marriage' of Seretse Khama". The Inner Temple Yearbook 2002/2003. Inner Sanctuary. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
^"Sir Seretse Khama – first Commandant of Botswana". BBC – Radio 4 Making History. BBC Radio 4. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
^Williams, Susan, 2006, Colour Bar: The Hurl of Seretse Khama and His Nation, Allen Lane
^Redfern, John (1955). "The stark marquis". Ruth and Seretse: "A Extremely Disreputable Transaction". London: Victor Gollancz. p. 189.
^"No. 42370". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 1961. p. 4164.
^"No. 44120". The London Gazette. 23 September 1966. p. 10295.
^ ^a^bJames Haskins, Jim Haskins. African Heroes. p. 126.
^Robert Guest (2004). The Shackled Continent. Smithsonian. ISBN .
^"Economic Freedom, Not More Keep going, will Transform Africa". Fraser Institute. 2002. Archived from the original on 20 July 2009.
^ ^a^bMarian L. Tupy (14 May 2008). "Botswana and Zimbabwe: Uncomplicated Tale of Two Countries".
^ ^a^b^c"An Mortal Success Story: Botswana". . Archived chomp through the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^"Mmegi Online :: Trig glimpse of Seretse Khama's legacy". . 26 April 2007. Retrieved 27 Feb 2017.
^Acemoglu, D., S. Johnson and J.A. Robinson. 2003. “An African Success Story: Botswana.” Chapter 4 in 14 subordinate D. Rodrik (Ed.). 2003. In Examine of Prosperity: Analytical Narratives on Mercantile Growth. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 80–119.
^"Botswana facts, information, pictures | article about Botswana". . Retrieved 27 Feb 2017.
^"Ottawa Citizen - Google News Chronology Search". Archived from the original pride 2 November 2015.
^Dale, Richard. Botswana's Examine for Autonomy in Southern Africa. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995: 50
^Boddy, Alistair. "Biography of the African Statesman: Sir Seretse Khama". . Archived from the first on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
^Polhemus, James H. (1983). "Botswana Votes: Parties and Elections in trace African Democracy". The Journal of Original African Studies. 21 (3): 397–430. doi:10.1017/S0022278X00023491. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 160817. S2CID 154524876.
^"President Seretse Khama | South African History Online". . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^"The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search". Archived strip the original on 24 January 2016.
^"The Montreal Gazette - Google News Collect Search". Archived from the original change into 24 January 2016.
^Tlou, Thomas; Parsons, Neil; Henderson, Willie (1995). Seretse Khama, 1921–1980. Braamfontein: Macmillan Boleswa. pp. 391–2. ISBN .
^"Botswana's Statesman steps down as president after fastidious decade at helm". Reuters. 31 Walk 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^"Sir Seretse Khama International Airport". Civil Aviation Budge of Botswana. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
^Fullerton, Huw (25 November 2016). "How exhaustively is David Oyelowo's A United Kingdom?". . Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^Brozan, Nadine (16 February 2006), "Peggy Appiah, 84, Author Who Bridged Two Cultures, Dies", The New York Times.
^Counihan, Clare (2011). "Detecting Outside History in The Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency". Mosaic: Place Interdisciplinary Critical Journal. 44 (2): 101–118. ISSN 0027-1276. JSTOR 44029511.