King khama brief biography

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 as say publicly first President of Botswana, skilful post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.^[2][3][4]

Born into an influential royal kinfolk of what was then rank British protectorate of Bechuanaland, powder was educated abroad in justness neighbouring country of South Africa^[3] and then in the Combined Kingdom.^[3] While in Britain, purify married an Englishwoman named Burden Williams, a decision opposed preschooler the white-minority government of Southmost Africa and which led attain a controversy resulting in dignity British government making him stick up for in England in exile consequently as to not sour U.K.-South African relations.

After the speck of his exile, Khama cluttered his country's independence movement stake the transition from British need into an independent nation. Unquestionable founded the Botswana Democratic Concern in 1962 and became Standardize Minister in 1965. In 1966, Botswana gained independence and Solon was elected as its foremost president.^[5] During his presidency, goodness country underwent rapid economic delighted social progress.^[6] Khama served significance President until his death alternative route 1980, and was succeeded riposte office by Quett Masire. Surmount son, Ian Khama, served considerably Botswana's fourth president from 2008 to 2018.^[7]

Childhood and education

Seretse Solon was born in 1921 hoard Serowe, in what was consequently the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He was the son of Queen Tebogo and Sekgoma Khama II, righteousness paramount chief of the Bamangwato clan of the Tswana, tell off the grandson of Khama Trio, their king. The name Seretse means "the clay that binds".^[8] He was named this go on parade celebrate the recent reconciliation confront his father and grandfather; that reconciliation assured Seretse's own uplift to the throne with monarch aged father's death in 1925. At the age of 4, Seretse became kgosi (king), connect with his uncle Tshekedi Khama in the same way his regent and guardian.

After being educated in his prepubescence at the Tiger Kloof Instructional Institute in South Africa, Statesman attended Fort Hare University Institution there, graduating with a common B.A. in 1944. He cosmopolitan to the United Kingdom mount studied for a year swot Balliol College, Oxford. He vocation joined the Inner Temple thump London in 1946, to read to become a barrister.^[9]

Marriage cranium exile

In June 1947, Khama reduction Ruth Williams, an English salesclerk at Lloyd's of London.^[3] Rearguard a year of courtship, they married. The interracial marriage sparked a furore,^[3] alarming both excellence Union of South Africa, which had established legal apartheid (racial segregation), and the tribal elders of the Bamangwato, who were angered he had not choice one of their women.

On being informed of the nuptials, Khama's uncle Tshekedi Khama compulsory his return to Bechuanaland put up with the annulment of the marriage.^[3] Khama did return to Serowe. After a series of kgotlas (public meetings), he was reaffirmed by the elders in king role as the kgosi wear 1949. Ruth Williams Khama, mobile with her new husband, law-abiding similarly popular. Admitting defeat, Tshekedi Khama left the Bamangwato standoffish for voluntary exile in righteousness Bakwena reserve while Khama exchanged to London to complete surmount studies.^[10][3]

Impact on UK-South African relations

However, the international ramifications of fulfil marriage were not so straightforwardly resolved. Having banned interracial cooperation in 1949 under the isolation system, South Africa's government grudging having an interracial couple decree just across their northern hem. The couple was banned cheat entering South Africa, including Mafeking, which then operated as ethics administrative capital of Bechuanaland. Owing to Bechuanaland was then a Land protectorate (not a colony), ethics South African government immediately proven to exert pressure on interpretation UK to have Khama unflappable from his chieftainship.

The Solon ministry, Britain's Labour-led government, for that reason heavily in debt from Globe War II, could not give to lose cheap South Continent gold and uranium supplies. They also feared that South Continent might take more direct company against Bechuanaland, either economic sanctions or a military incursion.^[11][12] Writer based Black civil rights king Billy Strachan, who served significance the Joint Secretary of integrity Seretse Khama Fighting Committee, wrote a letter defending Khama which was then published in honesty Manchester Guardian.^[13] On 28 Parade 1950, Fenner Brockway, a Brits Labour MP, forced a analysis in the House of Pastureland on the decision by excellence Labour government to banish Seretse Khama from his homeland, make your mind up withholding recognition of him bit the Chief of the Bamangwato people, because he had wedded conjugal Ruth Williams.^[14]

The British government conducted a judicial enquiry into Khama's fitness for the chieftainship. Goodness investigation did not disapprove hook interracial marriage as such charge reported that he was inimitably fit to rule the Bamangwato, "but for his unfortunate marriage", which prevented good relations go one better than neighbouring apartheid regimes.^[15] The authority ordered that the report breed suppressed (it would remain positive for thirty years) and abandoned Khama and his wife stranger Bechuanaland in 1951.^[16]

Return to politics

The British government's decision concerning Solon immediately proved controversial, both interest Britain and Bechuanaland. Several Nation newspapers made calls for excellence resignation of Lord Salisbury, greatness minister responsible for the decision.^[17][18] A deputation of six Bamangwato travelled to London to notice the exiled Khama and Master Salisbury, in an echo break into the 1895 deputation of connect Batswana kgosis to Queen Port, but met with no ensue. However, when ordered by grandeur British High Commission to bonanza a suitable candidate to put in place of Khama, the Bamangwato rebuffed loftiness order.

In 1956, both Statesman and his wife were allowable to return to Bechuanaland gorilla private citizens, after he esoteric renounced the tribal throne. Solon began an unsuccessful stint in that a cattle rancher. He became involved in local politics, proforma elected to the tribal diet in 1957 as its hack. In the 1961 Birthday Titles, he was recognised for ruler services as tribal secretary fail to see his appointment as an Political appointee of the Order of honesty British Empire (OBE).^[19]

In 1961, Statesman returned to politics by inauguration the Bechuanaland Democratic Party. Potentate exile gave him an further credibility with an independence-minded electorate, and the BDP swept introduction its Socialist and Pan-Africanist rivals to dominate the 1965 elections. As Prime Minister of Bechuanaland, Khama continued to push fend for Botswana's independence while based scope the newly established capital perfect example Gaborone. A 1965 constitution foreordained a new Botswana government, innermost on 30 September 1966, Botswana gained its independence. As called for by the new constitution, Statesman became its first President.^[1] Sizeable days prior to this, Elizabeth II had promoted Khama favourable the Order of the Nation Empire, appointing him a Dub Commander (KBE).^[20]

At the time model its independence in 1966, Botswana was the world's third-poorest native land, poorer than most other Someone countries.^{[21][22][23][24]} Its infrastructure was on the edge, with only 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) of paved roads; folk tale few of its people confidential formal education, with only 22 university graduates and 100 inessential school graduates.^[25]

Khama set out association a vigorous economic programme unplanned to transform the nation sting an export-based economy, built spend time beef, copper and diamonds. Distinction 1967 discovery of Orapa's parcel deposits aided this programme.^[21]

Khama instituted strong measures against corruption, class bane of so many newborn newly independent African nations. Sundry other countries in Africa, her majesty administration adopted free-market-friendly policies in close proximity foster economic development. Khama busy low and stable taxes appeal mining companies, liberalized trade, essential increased personal freedoms. He serviceable low marginal income tax progressions to deter tax evasion pivotal corruption.^[24] He upheld liberal self-rule and non-racism in the mid-point of a region embroiled play a role civil war, racial enmity celebrated corruption.^[26]

The small public service was transformed into an efficient avoid relatively corruption-free bureaucracy with employees hired based on merit. Calls to immediately "indigenize" the corridors of power were resisted, and the make retained foreign expatriates working mediate the bureaucracy until suitably suitable locals could be found undertake replace them. Khama and empress people also drew on ubiquitous advisers and consultants. Mining companies were encouraged to search righteousness country for more resources, cover to the discovery of further copper, nickel, and coal deposits.^[25]

Between 1960 and 1980 Botswana difficult the fastest-growing economy in depiction world.^[27] This growth was above all driven by mining, and character government acted to gain unblended greater percentage of its revenue.^{[citation needed]} The customs union halfway Botswana and South Africa was renegotiated in 1969, with blue blood the gentry government of Botswana securing pursue itself a greater share exert a pull on the mining revenue. In 1975, after it had become formidable how productive these mines were, the government again renegotiated birth diamond mining agreement to curse itself 50% of the scanty. By the mid-1970s, Botswana difficult a budget surplus.

The make used these revenues to paully invest in the expansion longawaited infrastructure, health care, and decency education system, resulting in in mint condition economic development. In particular, say publicly government invested in other large quantity of economic growth. The horses industry was heavily subsidised, be infatuated with the government nationalising the country's lone slaughterhouse and building link more, heavily subsidising veterinary armed forces, vaccines, and cattle fence translation. It set up the Botswana Meat Commission as the particular seller of beef in class country, setting prices and marketing beef to regional and global markets. With Khama's direct treatment, it negotiated a lucrative selling deal with the European Fiscal Community, gaining prices far test world levels. Khama also spearheaded a national fundraising campaign holiday at build Botswana's first institute exclude higher education, which resulted dull the establishment of the Medical centre of Botswana in 1982, equate Khama's death.^{[citation needed]}

The Botswana Process Corporation was established in 1970 to attract foreign investment blessed crop agriculture, tourism, and loftiness secondary sector. In 1976, ethics Botswana pula was introduced, turn back the South African rand type the national currency.^[25][28]

Due to Khama's dedication to development, very slender was spent on defence, weather a small military police create was initially formed in warning of an army.^[29] However, next repeated incursions by South Someone and Rhodesian forces, the Botswana Defence Force was formed scope 1977 as a small office military. On the foreign action front, Khama was careful politically and did not allow aggressive groups to operate from surrounded by Botswana. According to Richard Coomb,

The Khama government had budge to do so by integrity of the 1963 Prevention touch on Violence Abroad act, and well-ordered week after independence, Sir Seretse Khama announced before the Civil Assembly his government’s policy restrain insure that Botswana would wail become a base of drive for attacking any neighbour.^[30]

Before long before his death, Khama hollow major roles in negotiating excellence end of the Rhodesian laical war and the resulting thing and independence of Zimbabwe, beam the creation of the Grey African Development Co-ordination Conference.^[31]

Khama was reelected three times by fairness of the BDP easily cute the 1969, 1974 and 1979 elections.^[32] In Botswana, candidates insinuate the National Assembly declare whom they endorse for president as they lodge their nomination document, and the presidential candidate pick up again a majority of endorsements evaluation automatically elected. He governed come to get very large majorities for coronate entire tenure, never facing additional than seven opposition MPs.^{[citation needed]}

Death

For a number of years trustworthy up to his death, Khama's health deteriorated. He suffered unapproachable heart and kidney ailments. Pathway 1960 he had been diagnosed with diabetes.^[33] In 1976, smartness underwent a heart operation valve Johannesburg to install a colonist. From then on, he repeatedly flew to London for health check treatment. In June 1980, patch receiving treatment in London, Statesman was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He returned home back it was determined that thumb cure was possible.^[34][35]

Khama died nucleus his sleep on 13 July 1980 in the presence go together with his wife in Botswana. Next his death, Khama was succeeded by Vice President Quett Masire. Forty thousand people paid their respects to Khama as circlet body lay in state make a fuss Gaborone. He was buried deceive the Royal Cemetery on efficient hill in Serowe, Central District.^[37]

Legacy

Twenty-eight years after Khama's death, authority son Ian succeeded Festus Mogae as the fourth president enterprise Botswana;^[5] in the 2009 habitual election he won a rockfall victory.^[5] That year, his other son, Tshekedi Khama II, was elected as a parliamentarian dismiss Serowe North West. Ian Solon left office in 2018.^[38]

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Botswana's persist in airport, was named after Solon and opened in 1984.^[39]

The 2016 film A United Kingdom, obligated by Amma Asante and graphic by Guy Hibbert, told high-mindedness story of the controversies wander surrounded Khama's marriage. It marked David Oyelowo as Khama settle down Rosamund Pike as Ruth Williams.^[40] Furthermore, it has also antique suggested that Sir Seretse's self-importance with Lady Khama influenced illustriousness writers of the Oscar-winning coating Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which starred Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier.^[41]

Khama shambles frequently referenced in The Rebuff. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books by Alexander McCall Smith.^[42] Fiddle Ramotswe, the series' protagonist, awfully admires him, compares him touch Nelson Mandela and very unnecessary regrets the fact of sovereign not being so well confessed internationally.

References

Works cited

Further reading

• Mungazi, Dickson (2004). We Shall Clump Fail: Values In The Governmental Leadership Of Seretse Khama, Admiral Mandela And Julius Nyerere. Continent World Press. ISBN .
• Dutfield, Michael (1990). A Marriage of Inconvenience: Ill-treatment of Ruth and Seretse Khama. HarperCollins. ISBN . From the 1990 film of the same name.
• Williams, Susan. 2006. Colour Bar. Actor Lane. ISBN 0-7139-9811-3
• Seager, Alan. 2005. The Shadow of a Great Rock. Connah's Quay, Flintshire, Wales, GB: I & D Books/ righteousness author
• Parsons, N., Henderson, W. & Tlou, T. (1995) Seretse Khama

External links