Seretse Khama

Born 1921, in Serowe. Botswana statesman. Chief of the Bamangwato tribe.

Khama received a bachelor of arts degree at the University of South Africa and continued his education at Oxford (Great Britain). From 1961 to 1965, Khama was a member of the Legislative Council and one of the two African members of the Executive Council of Bechuanaland. He founded the Democratic Party of Botswana (called the Bechuanaland Democratic Party until 1966) and became its chairman in 1962. From 1965 to 1966 he served as prime minister of Bechuanaland. When independence was proclaimed on Sept. 30, 1966, Khama became president of the Republic of Botswana.