Overview of the events of the 1980s in Botswana
| Decades in Botswana |
|---|
| 1980s |
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.
- 13 July – President Seretse Khama dies. He is succeeded by Quett Masire.
1981
- A drought in Southern Africa begins, destroying approximately 75% of crops in Botswana. It will continue until 1987.
1982
- The Financial Assistance Policy is implemented to provide grants for businesses.
- Botswana National Museum hosts Culture & Resistance Conference, 5–9 July 1982.
- February – The Jwaneng diamond mine is established.
- June – The Botswana Progressive Union is founded.
- September – The University of Botswana is founded.
1983
- 3 January – Vice President Lenyeletse Seretse dies. Peter Mmusi becomes vice president.
- A labour law is passed limiting the right to unionise.
1984
- The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport opens.
- May – The Public Service Act allows civil servants to operate in the private sector.
- 8 September – The 1984 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.
1985
- 1985 – HIV is first identified in Botswana, beginning the nation's HIV epidemic.
- 14 June – South African soldiers invade Botswana and attack the headquarters of a South African anti-apartheid group in Gabarone. 12 people are killed, and the action is condemned in a resolution by the United Nations.
1986
- 17 April – Botswana's first women's rights group, Emang Basadi, is established.
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.
- May – Morupule Electric Power Station is established.
- 1 October – Botswana Railways is established.
- November – The constitution is amended so that only citizens of Botswana can serve as president.
1988
1989
- Free secondary education is made available in Botswana.
- 7 October – The 1989 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.
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
References
- ^ "Botswana profile - Timeline". BBC News. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
- ^ Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2009). Botswana Since Independence. New Africa Press. ISBN 978-0-9802587-8-3.
- ^ Leith, J. Clark (2005). Why Botswana Prospered. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. doi:10.1515/9780773572416. ISBN 978-0-7735-7241-6.
- "Culture & Resistance Conference (1982)". Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- ^ Morton, Barry; Ramsay, Jeff (2018). Historical Dictionary of Botswana (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-1133-8.
- ^ 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.
 Years in Botswana (1966–present) | |
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| 20th century | |
| 21st century | |