Transformers: Seretse Khama’s peaceful revolution in Botswana

I didn’t come to know Khama in an orthodox way. For all the other transformers, their reputations preceded them. But to discover Khama, I had to do some digging. I started with the stories of African nations that appear to do well, then went back to find the people responsible. I had to do this: I was forming a mental list of transformative nation-builders, and it didn’t have any Africans. Without such an example, explaining what transformative leadership is in a continent that lionises Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez would have been a gargantuan task. But fortunately, I found him, the man whose name I had never heard before. And that has made Botswana much more interesting to me now. Thankfully, they are sticking to the script: the concept works.

Born in 1921 into the Bangwato royal family, Seretse Khama was heir to one of Botswana’s largest ethnic groups. His grandfather, Khama III, was a visionary leader who, alongside two other Tswana chiefs, took the unprecedented step of travelling to the United Kingdom in 1895 to request British colonial protection. This strategic move was intended to shield Botswana from annexation by Cecil Rhodes and his colonial enterprise. Khama III managed to preserve tribal autonomy by securing protectorate status—a legacy of cautious diplomacy that profoundly influenced Seretse’s leadership and vision for Botswana.

Educated at Fort Hare, South Africa’s distinguished institution, which counts figures like Mandela and Tutu among its alumni, Khama later attended Oxford University to study law. His 1948 marriage to a British woman sparked controversy with British authorities fearing a backlash from apartheid South Africa. Khama was barred from returning to Botswana until 1956, when he relinquished his claim to the chieftaincy, sacrificing his royal identity for a greater cause.

Back in Botswana, Khama founded the Botswana Democratic Party which led Botswana to independence in 1966 with Khama as first president. At that time, Botswana was among the world’s poorest countries, with only 12 kilometres of paved roads and just over 100 secondary school graduates. Yet, under Khama’s leadership, Botswana transformed, achieving the world’s fastest economic growth rate over the next 40 years, surpassing even nations like South Korea, Singapore, and China. Today, Botswana boasts a per capita GDP nearly 200 times higher than in 1966. Tanzania hasn’t increased its GDP per capita even four times since 1966.

Khama’s approach centred on three main pillars: strong institutions, national unity, and resource stewardship. Recognising the need for resilient governance structures, he empowered Botswana’s political and legal systems to function independently and transparently. His focus on anti-corruption and accountability established public trust, earning international respect and laying a foundation for stability and growth.

Unity was another pillar. Botswana’s diverse cultural landscape could have fractured along tribal lines, but Khama promoted a national identity that transcended local loyalties. His choice to forgo his role as a traditional chief for democratic leadership underscored his commitment to equality. His marriage to Ruth, though controversial, became an emblem of his belief in inclusivity and helped foster a culture of tolerance across the nation.

Khama’s final pillar was his handling of Botswana’s diamond wealth. Unlike many African nations that succumbed to the ‘resource curse’, Khama negotiated a groundbreaking 50-50 partnership with De Beers, ensuring that diamond revenues fuelled development. The government invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and healthcare thus transforming Botswana from one of the world’s poorest nations to a model of sustainable economic growth and governance.

What stands out about Seretse Khama’s leadership is his pragmatism. Rather than hastily replacing white officials with unqualified local counterparts, which could have caused economic turmoil, he chose a gradual transition that preserved institutional knowledge while building local capacity. This caution allowed Botswana to avoid the upheaval seen in nations like Zimbabwe and Uganda after they had expelled people of other races. Surrounded by hostile states, Khama maintained a careful neutrality, fostering stability while upholding Botswana’s commitment to racial equality. Rather than choosing to enrich himself and his associates, he chose inclusivity by strengthening national institutions. The people of Botswana are reaping the immense benefits of such visionary leadership.

Africans today have leaders such as Mugabe on one side and a man such as Khama on the other. We have nations such as Zimbabwe on one side and Botswana on the other. We are free to choose an outcome we like. Let’s choose men who can bring a ‘revolution’ that we desire peacefully.