Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama (or Ian a Sêrêtsê; born 27 February 1953) is a Botswana politician who has been the President of Botswana since 2008; he is also the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force, he entered politics and served as Vice-President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008, then succeeded Festus Mogae as President on 1 April 2008.
Early Life
He is the first born son and second child of Sir Seretse Khama (1 July 1921–13 July 1980) the country's foremost independence leader who was President from 1966 to 1980) and Lady Khama. He was born in Chertsey, Surrey during the period his father was exiled to the United Kingdom due to the opposition by the colonial government and the emergent apartheid regime in South Africa to his marriage to a white woman. Tshekedi Khama is the younger brother to Ian Khama. He took over the Serowe North-West from his brother Ian Khama when the latter became president. Botswana Democratic Party activist and current Gaborone Central candidate, Gomolemo Motswaledi who was tipped to stand in one of the BDP's safest seats in the bye-election pulled out under controversial circumstances, giving way for Tshekedi. Tshekedi is believed to be poised for a cabinet post in the near future. Tshekedi is also a businessman, being in partnership with his twin brother Anthony.
Seretse Khama Ian Khama is also the grandson of Sekgoma II (1869–1925), who was the paramount chief of the Bamangwato people, and the great-grandson of Khama III (1837–1923), their king; and the great-great grandson of Kgosikgolo Sekgoma I, the Chief of the Bamangwato people (1815–1885). The name "Seretse" means “the clay that binds together,” and was given to his father to celebrate the recent reconciliation of his father and grandfather; this reconciliation assured Seretse’s Khama's own ascension to the throne with his aged father’s death in 1925. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is named after his father to continue this historical legacy. He is also known simply as Ian Khama to differentiate between himself and his father. Tshekedi Khama II, Ian Khama's brother, was named after their great uncle, Tshekedi Khama who was the regent and guardian for Kgosi Seretse Khama the first President of Botswana.
Education and training
Ian Khama is an alumnus of Waterford Kamhlaba, a United World College in Mbabane, Swaziland. He is a qualified pilot and attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where the British Army trains its officers.
From : www.wikipedia.org
