Ian Khama

Seretse Khama Ian Khama (also, Seretse Ian A, born February 27, 1953 in Chertsey, England) is a Lieutenant General and, since April 2008, President of Botswana. As a first-born son of Sir Seretse Khama, the first political leader of the country after independence, which was from 1966 to 1980 president of the country, and his wife Ruth Williams Khama Ian Khama is also patriarch of Bamangwato ethnicity.

Life

Vice - President

Khama announced on 16 December 1997 as the then commander of the armed forces in Botswana to his resignation from that post on 31 March 1998. Since that date, with the departure from office of then-President Masire Quett coincided, this was speculation about a political career Khama occasion. On 1 April 1998, when the previous Vice - President Festus Mogae who succeeded Masire, Khama was appointed as the new Vice - President. However, Khama was at that time a member of the National Assembly and therefore could not take office immediately. In early July 1998, he scored an overwhelming victory in a by-election in North Serowe. Khama received 2986 votes, the candidate of the opposition Botswana National Front got only 86 votes. On July 13, he took his seat in the National Assembly and was sworn in as Vice - President.

After the victory of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP) in the parliamentary elections of 1999 Khama remained in his post as vice president and as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration. Mogae admitted Khama some time later a sabbatical to what was the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations sharply criticized by the opposition Botswana Congress Party and Botswana. Khama's time out was on 1 January 2000 and effective on 1 September 2000, he took up his duties as Vice President again.

Khama was already a member of the board of the BDP, when he was elected on 22 July 2003 at the party chairman. In a crucial vote, he defeated the previous party chairman Ponatshego Kedikilwe with 512 to 219 votes. Khama was supported by President Mogae and the election result was seen as a first step on the road to succession Mogae by Khama.

President of Botswana

After Mogae had announced his resignation some time ago, he handed over his office to Khama on 1 April 2008. Upon his swearing in Gaborone Khama announced a continuity of policy in Botswana and spoke out against "radical changes". Khama emphasized his commitment to democracy.

In the following elections in mid- October 2009 Khama was confirmed by the large majority of its BDP parliamentary party for another five- year term. Even before counting all the constituencies he was told by the chief judge of the country's new president. While it is internally accused of authoritarian leadership style, however, he has earned reputation since 2008 abroad, including because of stable democracy and his criticism of Mugabe's dictatorship in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Parade ground

Khama is a trained pilot who has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On April 29, 2013 Khama was injured in Gaborone Game Reserve of a cheetah easily in the face.