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 Botswana Defence Force, according to the Constitution.^[2] The president is elected by the National Assembly, the sole house of the Parliament, and is usually the leader of the largest party. The Constitution limits the president's tenure to two five-year terms. The first president to be elected under the constitution was Sir Seretse Khama, who was the prime minister from 1965 until 1966, after which he served as president until his death on 13 July, 1980.^[3] Sir Seretse was the subject of the 2016 film "A United Kingdom", which highlighted his fight against Apartheid-style policies that sought to prevent him from assuming his role as Chieftain of his tribe while Botswana was still the Protectorate of Bechuanaland. The most recent incumbent is Duma Boko, who was elected by the National Assembly on 1 November 2024 following the 2024 general election. The president may be removed by a motion of no confidence.

President of the Republic of Botswana
Tautona wa 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[1]

Presidential term

The president is elected to a five-year term that runs concurrently with the term of the National Assembly.^[4] Previously, a president could be reelected any number of times. In 1997, under the second president, Quett Masire, term limits were imposed on the office for the first time.^[5][6] Since 1998, the president has been limited to a total of 10 years in office (equivalent to two full terms), whether successive or separated.^[6] The first president for whom the term limits applied was Festus Mogae, who was required to leave office for good in 2008.^[7] Each president gets a guaranteed pension.^[8]

Election

During the general election campaign, all candidates for the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for President when they lodge their nomination papers. If a party or alliance secures an absolute majority of elected MPs in the legislative elections, its presidential candidate, always the party or alliance's leader, becomes the new president immediately without the need for an investiture vote.^[9][10][11] In practice, since legislative elections are conducted through first-past-the-post voting, elections have always produced single-party majority governments ever since the first general election in 1965 and thus a presidential election by Members of Parliament has never happened.

The president is elected by the members of the National Assembly following a general election that produces a hung parliament. In the event that no candidate secures a simple majority, the National Assembly elects the president through secret ballot, with a simple majority of the total number of MPs (excluding 'specially-elected' MPs) required to win. This election is limited to candidates whose party at least 10 MPs. If, after three rounds of voting, no candidate is elected, two additional rounds may be authorized by the speaker, if it is deemed that a successful election remains possible. Should these rounds also fail to produce a winner, or if the speaker declines to authorise further rounds, the National Assembly will be dissolved and snap elections will be held.^[9]

The president's survival in office is dependent on whether their government enjoys the confidence of a majority of the National Assembly. They can be removed by a motion of no confidence, prompting their resignation or if not, the dissolution of parliament if the president refuses to do so, which triggers a snap election.

Presidential powers

The president is the head of state, head of government and commander-in-chief of the Botswana Defence Force. The rights, responsibilities and remuneration of the president are enumerated in Chapter III of the Constitution and subsequent acts passed by the National Assembly.

The executive powers of the republic are vested in the president, who appoints various officials to positions listed in the Constitution, the most significant of which are the cabinet ministers and Justices of Appeal of the Court of Appeal. The president should consult the Cabinet on respective matters of policy. The president could assent or withhold his assent on bills passed by the National Assembly. If the National Assembly passed the bill again the President shall assent or withhold his assent within 21 days, or could dissolve the National Assembly. The president is accorded the constitutional powers to declare state of public emergencies and grant pardons or commutation with the advice of the Advisory Committee of Prerogative of Mercy.

List of officeholders

Political parties

  Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

  Botswana National Front (BNF)

Symbols

^† Died in office

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected[12][13]	Term of office			Political party (Coalition)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Seretse Khama (1921–1980)[14][15]	1965 1969 1974 1979	30 September 1966[16]	13 July 1980[†][13]	13 years, 287 days	BDP
2		Quett Masire (1925–2017)[5]	1984 1989 1994	18 July 1980[13]	31 March 1998[13]	17 years, 256 days	BDP
3		Festus Mogae (born 1939)[17]	1999 2004	1 April 1998[18]	1 April 2008[19]	10 years	BDP
4		Ian Khama (born 1953)[20]	2009 2014	1 April 2008[21]	1 April 2018[22]	10 years	BDP
5		Mokgweetsi Masisi (born 1961)[23]	2019	1 April 2018[24]	1 November 2024	6 years, 214 days	BDP
6		Duma Boko (born 1969)	2024	1 November 2024[25]	Incumbent	280 days	BNF (UDC)

Timeline

See also

• Politics portal

• Politics of Botswana
• First Lady of Botswana
• List of commissioners of Bechuanaland
• List of heads of government of Botswana
• Vice-President of Botswana