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)

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

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

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

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 – 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]

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

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

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

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

"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. 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. ISBN 978-1-55587-285-4.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.