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. 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. 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.
Presidential term
The president is elected to a five-year term that runs concurrently with the term of the National Assembly. 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. Since 1998, the president has been limited to a total of 10 years in office (equivalent to two full terms), whether successive or separated.
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. 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.
! rowspan=2| Government
! rowspan=2|
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
| rowspan=4| 1
| rowspan=4| frameless|upright=0.4
| rowspan=4| Seretse Khama<br />
| rowspan=4| 30 September 1966
| rowspan=4| 13 July 1980
| rowspan=4|
! rowspan=4 style="background:;" |
| rowspan=4| Botswana Democratic Party
| 1965
| S. Khama I
| rowspan=4| <br /><br />
|-
| 2004
| Mogae II
|-
| rowspan=3| 4
| rowspan=3| frameless|upright=0.4
| rowspan=3| Ian Khama<br />
| rowspan=3| 1 April 2008
| rowspan=3| 1 April 2018
| rowspan=3| years
! rowspan=3 style="background:;" |
| rowspan=3| Botswana Democratic Party
| –
| I. Khama I
| rowspan=3| <br />
|-
| 2009
| I. Khama II
|-
| 2014
| I. Khama III
|-
| rowspan=2| 5
| rowspan=2| frameless|upright=0.4
| rowspan=2| Mokgweetsi Masisi<br />
| rowspan=2| 1 April 2018
| rowspan=2| 1 November 2024
| rowspan=2|
! rowspan=2 style="background:;" |
| rowspan=2| Botswana Democratic Party
| –
| Masisi I
| rowspan=2|
|-
| 2019
| Masisi II
|-
| 6
| frameless|upright=0.4
| Duma Boko<br />
| 1 November 2024
| Incumbent
|
! style="background:;" |
| Botswana National Front<br />
| 2024
| Boko
|
|}
Timeline
See also
- Politics of Botswana
- First Lady of Botswana
- List of commissioners of Bechuanaland
- List of heads of government of Botswana
- Vice-President of Botswana