Six years living next door to Khama
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 1, 2014 12:20
April 1, 2008
Khama announces roadmap for Botswana
President Ian Khama tells the nation that his roadmap for the nation will be underpinned and characterised by principles of Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline.
April 1, 2008
Khama fires five ministers
President Ian Khama appoints his new cabinet and fires five ministers he inherited from his predecessor Festus Mogae. He fired professor Sheila Tlou, Charles Tibone, Moeng Pheto, Duncan Mlazie and Moggie Mbaakanyi.
April 10, 2008
Khama asks SADC to act on Zimbabwe
The leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in Gaborone to ask for the intervention of Botswana and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to end the elections crisis in that country. This visit prompted Khama to contact SADC chairman, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, about what to do.
October 3, 2008
Khama shuns independence celebrations
Save for the message he read on Btv President Ian Khama kept a very low profile. He did not attend independence celebrations at the National Stadium like his predecessors used to.
April 19 2009
Khama purges Motswaledi
The intra-party animosity in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) culminated in the suspension of its secretary general Gomolemo Motswaledi from the party for 60 days.
May 9, 2009
Kalafatis is killed
John Kalafatis is shot and killed by security agents in Gaborone and government is unable to explain what happened.
For four subsequent weeks, newspaper headlines are awash with the stories behind the killing and the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Ramadeluka Seretse calls a press conference accusing journalists of sensationalising the story and writing lies on the president’s link to the killing.
March 2010
BDP splits
The Botswana Democratic Party splits and gives birth to the Botswana Movement for Democracy.
April 2010
Khama attends SACU summit
President Ian Khama leaves for Windhoek, Namibia to attend the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) summit.
June 2010
Khama visits Cuba
President Ian Khama visits Cuba at the invitation of President Raul Castro Ruz.
August 2010
Banda on state visit to Botswana
President, Rupiah Bwezani Banda of Zambia, accompanied by the First Lady, Thandiwe Banda open Serowe HIS in Botswana, at the invitation of President Ian Khama.
October 2010
Khama visits Japan
President Ian Khama pays a visit to Japan and meets His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito and the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
November 2010
Chinese VP comes to Botswana
Vice President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China visits Botswana.
April 18, 2011
Mother of all strikes begins
Public Service strike commences after weeks of talks between Botswana Federation of Public Service Union (BOFEPUSU) over a 16 percent salary increment. The president is not bothered and engages in a national tour denouncing the demands made by BOFEPUSU, arguing that the government has no money to pay the 16 percent. At one of the meetings in Good Hope, he stated that he does not care even if the civil servants stayed away from work for months.
June 2011
Michelle Obama visits Botswana
Michelle Obama pays first visit to Botswana.
June 2011
Khama receives ICCF Award in Washington
President Ian Khama departs for Washington DC, USA, to receive the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award at the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) 2011 US Congressional Member Dinner.
July 2011
Khama visits Mozambique
President Ian Khama departs for Maputo, to visit his Mozambican counterpart.
August 2011
Khama on working visit to Liberia
President Ian Khama, arrived in Liberia yesterday afternoon to begin a two-day working visit to Africa’s oldest republic.
President Ian Khama was hosted at Osu Castle (State House) Accra, Ghana by his Ghanaian counterpart Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
December 2011
Kgosi Kgafela II de-recognised
De-Recognition of Kgosi Kgafela II
May 2012
Botswana hosts Sustainability summit
The government in partnership with Conservation International hosts the first-ever Summit for Sustainability in Africa. Four heads of state attend the meeting.
June 2012
Khama pardons BDF soldiers
President Ian Khama pardons four Botswana Defence Force soldiers convicted of the murder of John Kalafatis three years earlier. Gotshosamang Sechele, Ronnie Matako, Boitshoko Maifala, Dzikamani Mothobi were allowed to continue working for BDF. The law Society of Botswana condemns the pardon saying it violates the separation of powers.
“In the opinion of the Law Society, whilst the pardon may be correct on a conservative reading of the Constitution, it however casts great doubt on belief in the Rule of Law and Separation of Powers. “The pardon, the reasons for which are shrouded in secrecy, be brought into confidence as to why the pardon is justified”
July 2012
Merafhe steps down
Vice President Lt Gen Merafhe steps down due to ill health
April 2013
Khama attacked by leopard
The media reports that President Khama narrowly escaped death after a cheetah attacked him, leaving a few serious scratches in his head. A few days later, DIS agents arrest a man who expressed his wish that the cheetah should have taken the president’s life.
December 2013
Khama attends Mandela’s memorial
Khama attends former South African President and Freedom icon, Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at the FNB Stadium in South Africa.
April 2014
Country rocked by power outages
The country is rocked by electricity outages and the president is keeping quiet leaving everyone wondering whether or not he really cares about the country. This is despite the fact that he is the one who announced the end of loadshedding on July 16, 2013 at a BDP congress in Maun.
*The president is yet to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the African Union Summit.