1980s in Botswana

The following lists events that happened during the 1980s in Botswana.

Incumbents

• President:
  • Seretse Khama (1966–1980)
  • Quett Masire (1980–1998)
• Vice President
  • Quett Masire (1966–1980)
  • Lenyeletse Seretse (1980–1983)
  • Peter Mmusi (1983–1992)

Events

1980

• Botswana co-founds the Southern African Development Coordination Conference. ^[1]
• 13 July – President Seretse Khama dies. He is succeeded by Quett Masire. ^{[2] : 41}

1981

• A drought in Southern Africa begins, destroying approximately 75% of crops in Botswana. ^{[2] : 24} It will continue until 1987. ^{[3] : 68}

1982

• The Financial Assistance Policy is implemented to provide grants for businesses. ^{[3] : 98}
• Botswana National Museum hosts Culture & Resistance Conference, 5–9 July 1982. ^[4]
• February – The Jwaneng diamond mine is established. ^{[5] : xxxv}
• June – The Botswana Progressive Union is founded. ^{[5] : xxxv}
• September – The University of Botswana is founded. ^{[5] : xxxv}

1983

• 3 January – Vice President Lenyeletse Seretse dies. Peter Mmusi becomes vice president. ^{[5] : xxxv}
• A labour law is passed limiting the right to unionise. ^{[6] : 79}

1984

• The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport opens. ^{[5] : xxxvi}
• May – The Public Service Act allows civil servants to operate in the private sector. ^{[5] : xxxvi}
• 8 September – The 1984 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority. ^{[5] : xxxvi}

1985

• 1985 – HIV is first identified in Botswana, beginning the nation's HIV epidemic. ^{[5] : xxxvi}
• 14 June – South African soldiers invade Botswana and attack the headquarters of a South African anti-apartheid group in Gabarone. ^{[2] : 20} 12 people are killed, and the action is condemned in a resolution by the United Nations. ^[1]

1986

• 17 April – Botswana's first women's rights group, Emang Basadi, is established. ^{[5] : xxxvi}

1987

• A referendum is held to form a Supervisor of Elections. It passes with 78.1% of the vote.
• The university is closed for several months in response to student protests against police misconduct. ^{[6] : 79}
• May – Morupule Electric Power Station is established. ^{[5] : xxxvi}
• 1 October – Botswana Railways is established. ^{[5] : xxxvi}
• November – The constitution is amended so that only citizens of Botswana can serve as president. ^{[5] : xxxvi}

1989

• Free secondary education is made available in Botswana. ^{[6] : 82}
• 7 October – The 1989 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority. ^{[5] : xxxvi}

Deaths

• 1980
  • 13 July – Seretse Khama, President of Botswana
• 1982
  • Benjamin Thema, Minister of Education
  • 16 September – Keoagetse Radipotsane, Batswana football player
• 1983
  • 3 January – Lenyeletse Seretse, vice-president of Botswana
• 1986
  • Archelaus Tsoebebe, Minister of Labour and Social Services
  • 17 April – Bessie Head, writer

See also

• History of Botswana
• List of Botswana-related topics
• Outline of Botswana
• Timeline of Botswana

References

1. "Botswana profile - Timeline". BBC News. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
2. Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2009). Botswana Since Independence. New Africa Press. ISBN   978-0-9802587-8-3.
3. Leith, J. Clark (2005). Why Botswana Prospered . McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. doi:10.1515/9780773572416. ISBN   978-0-7735-7241-6.
4. "Culture & Resistance Conference (1982)" . Retrieved 2022-02-07.
5. Morton, Barry; Ramsay, Jeff (2018). Historical Dictionary of Botswana (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   978-1-5381-1133-8.
6. Holm, John D.; Molutsi, Patrick P. (1992). "State-Society Relations in Botswana: Beginning Liberalization". In Hydén, Göran; Bratton, Michael (eds.). Governance and Politics in Africa . L. Rienner. pp. 75–95. doi:10.1515/9781685853297. ISBN   978-1-55587-285-4.