Botswana gains independence from Britain

Date: 30 Sep 1966
Updated: 25 Sep 2020

Previously known as Bechuanaland, Botswana gained independence from Britain on 30 September 1966 under the leadership of Seretse Khama. Khama was elected president by the National Assembly in 1966 and then reelected for two additional terms, until he passed away in 1980. Botswana is rich of natural resources like diamond and today the country has achieved one of the highest per capita income rates in Africa.

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How we know this

01Democracy Web, ‘Accountability and Transparency: Country Studies – Botswana’, [online], available at www.democracyweb.org (Accessed: 03 September 2013)
02Boddy-Evans, A. ‘This Day in African History: 30 September’, [online], available at https://africanhistory.about.com (Accessed: 03 September 2013)

Last updated · 25 Sep 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, September 25). Botswana gains independence from Britain. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096458

South African History Online (2013) 'Botswana gains independence from Britain', South African History Online, 25 September. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096458 (Accessed: 24 July 2026).

South African History Online, Botswana gains independence from Britain [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096458, (accessed 24 July 2026).

"Botswana gains independence from Britain." South African History Online, 25 Sept. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096458. Accessed 24 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Botswana gains independence from Britain." South African History Online. September 25, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096458.