Timeline of Botswana

The History of Botswana includes its pre-state history, its colonial period as the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and its modern history as a sovereign state.

Pre-statehood

Early history
  • c. 73000 BCE – Humans settle in present-day Botswana.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1000 – Ancestors of the Kalanga people and the Sotho-Tswana peoples migrate to present-day Botswana.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1400 – Ancestors of the Kgalagadi people and Yeyi people migrate to present-day Botswana.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1450 – The Kingdom of Butua is established by the Chibundule dynasty of the Kalanga people.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1500 – Ancestors of the Tswana people, Subia people, Birwa people, and Pedi people migrate to present-day Botswana.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1650 – Ancestors of the Koena people migrate to present-day Botswana.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1680 – Nichasike overthrows the Chinbundule dynasty and seizes power in the Kingdom of Butua.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1730 – The Ngwaketse people split from the Koena people.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1750 – The Ngwato people split from the Koena people.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1795 – The Tawana people split from the Ngwato people.[1]: xxiii 

19th century
  • 1824
  • 1825 – Sebetwane of the Kololo people leads attacks against the Koena and Ngwaketse peoples.[1]: xxiii 
  • 1826
    • 28 August – Sebego I of the Ngwaketse people defeats the Kololo people at Dithubaruba.[1]: xxiii 
  • c. 1828 – The Kingdom of Butua defeats the Ngwato people at Matopos.[1]: xxiii 
  • 1835 – The Kololo people defeat the Tawana people.[1]: xxiv 
  • 1841
    • July – David Livingstone of the London Missionary Society begins missionary work among the Tswana people.[1]: xxiv 
  • 1842 – The Northern Ndebele people of present-day Zimbabwe attack the Koena people, Kgafela Kgatla, and Ngwato people. Macheng, heir to the Ngwato chiefdom, is taken prisoner.[1]: xxiv 
  • 1844
    • The Ngwato people use firearms to repel the Northern Ndebele people at Shoshong.[1]: xxiv 
    • Two rival groups emerge among the Ngwaketse people after the death of Sebego I.[1]: xxiv 
  • 1848
    • 1 October – David Livingstone baptises Sechele I of the Koena people, who becomes head of the local church.[1]: xxiv 
  • 1852
  • 1853
    • January – Transvaal and the Koena people come to a peace agreement. The Koena people carry out guerrilla warfare for another three years.[1]: xxv 
    • June – The Ngwaketse people rejoin under the joint leadership of Gaseitsiwe and Senthufe.[1]: xxv 
  • 1857
    • Gaseitsiwe overthrows Senthufe and takes control of the Ngwaketse people.[1]: xxv 
    • 16 July – Lutheran missionaries begin evangelising to the Koena people.[1]: xxv 
    • November – Robert Moffat negotiates the release of Macheng. Sechele I makes him kgosi of the Ngwato people.[1]: xxv 
  • 1859
    • April – Sechele I has Macheng overthrown and makes Sekgoma I the kgosi of the Ngwato people.[1]: xxv 
  • 1863
    • March – The Ngwato people repel another attack by the Northern Ndebele people at Shoshong.[1]: xxv 
  • 1866
    • May – Macheng is reinstated as kgosi of the Ngwato people replacing Sekgoma I.[1]: xxv 
  • 1867
  • 1870
    • April – Transvaal military leader Harklaas Malan captures Kgamanyane, kgosi of the Kgafela Kgatla, and publicly whips him.[1]: xxvi 
    • November – The Kgatla people join the Koena people under the rule of Sechele I.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1871
    • May – Mochudi is founded when the Kgatla people migrate to the Kingdom of Koena.[2]: 35 [1]: xxvi 
  • 1872
    • 29 August – Macheng is banished from Shoshong in an effort organised by Khama III.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1873
    • January – Sekgoma I returns as kgosi of the Ngwato people.[1]: xxvi 
    • January – A schism occurs between brothers Khama III, a Christian, and Kgamane, who joined and renounced Christianity. Khama III flees to Serowe.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1875
    • Khama III overthrows Sekgoma I and becomes kgosi of the Ngwato people.[1]: xxvi 
    • 11 August – The Kgafela people win the first battle of the Koena–Kgafela War against the Koena people in Mochudi.[1]: xxvi 
    • November – The Koena people win a battle against the Kgatla people in Thamaga.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1876
    • July – The Koena people win a battle against the Kgatla people in Molepolole.[1]: xxvi 
    • August – In response to the Dorsland Trek, Khama III requests British protection of the region.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1877 – The Dorsland Trek migrates through present-day Botswana.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1881
    • November – Ikaneng leads the Lete people in repelling an invasion.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1883 – The Koena–Kgafela War ends. The Rolong, Ngwaketse, Koena, and Kgatla peoples form a defense pact.[1]: xxvi 
  • 1884 – The Tawana people repel an invasion of Khutiyabasadi by the Northern Ndebele people.[1]: xxvi 

Bechuanaland Protectorate (1885–1966)

1885–1889

1890–1899
  • 1890
    • The United Kingdom places the Bechuanaland Protectorate under the Foreign Jurisdictions Act.[1]: xxvii 
    • The United Kingdom extends the Bechuanaland Protectorate to the Chobe River.[3]
  • 1891
    • 9 May – Sekgoma Letsholathebe becomes regent of the Tswana people in place of Khama III.[1]: xxvii 
  • 1892
    • January – The first of the Ngwato people enrol at Lovedale College.[1]: xxvii 
    • September – Sechele I dies. He is succeeded as kgosi of the Koena people by Sebele I.[1]: xxvii 
    • September – Kgosi Mosinyi II of the Kaa people dies, causing a succession crisis.[1]: xxvii 
  • 1893
    • October – The British South Africa Company, British police, and the Ngwato people attack and conquer the Northern Ndebele people.[1]: xxvii 
  • 1894
    • January – Sekgoma Letsholathebe leads an attack on the Caprivi Strip to steal slaves and cattle.[1]: xxvii 
    • October – The United Kingdom reorganises territorial allotment in the Bechuanaland Protectorate to favour Khama III.[1]: xxvii 
  • 1895 – The United Kingdom splits the Bechuanaland Protectorate, merging the southern British Bechuanaland with Cape Colony, which would become present-day South Africa.[2]: 17  Tswana chiefs and British missionaries form a coalition to speak against further absorption of Tswana tribes into Cape colony.[4]: 23 
  • 1896 – The 1890s African rinderpest epizootic reaches the Bechuanaland Protectorate, killing 90% of the protectorate's cattle and causing a years-long famine.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1897
    • Francistown is founded.
    • October – Khama III exiles his heir, Sekgoma Khama.[1]: xxviii 
    • 19 October – The Mahikeng–Bulawayo Railroad finishes construction.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1898 – Samuel Moroka leads his followers to settle in Tati.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1899
    • The borders of Batswana reserves are defined.[1]: xxviii 
    • April – The United Kingdom imposes a hut tax on the protectorate.[1]: xxviii 
    • 25 November – The Kgafela Kgatla win a battle against Boers at Derdepoort at the beginning of the Second Boer War.[1]: xxviii 

1900–1909
  • 1901
    • 27 April – Koranta ea Becoana is founded as the first Batswana-owned newspaper.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1903
  • 1905
    • 29 March – Tiger Kloof Native Institution opens as a secondary school.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1906
    • 12 June – The protectorate's resident commissioner overthrows and imprisons regent Tawana kgosi Sekgoma Letsholathebe.[1]: xxviii 
  • 1909
    • Several Tswana tribes are made part of the newly formed Union of South Africa.[4]: 23  The United Kingdom confirms that the Bechuanaland Protectorate will not be merged into the union.[2]: 18 
    • Rudolf Pöch produces the first film recording of present-day Botswana.[1]: xxix 

1910–1919
  • 1910
  • 1911
    • 23 January – Koena kgosi Sebele I dies, causing a succession crisis.[1]: xxix 
    • April – Sekgoma Letsholathebe is released from prison.[1]: xxix 
  • 1914 – The protectorate joins World War I with the United Kingdom, sending soldiers to France, East Africa, and Namibia.[1]: xxix 
  • 1915
    • Maun is founded as the capital of the Batawana tribe.[2]: 39 
    • Bobonong is founded as the capital of the Birwa tribe.[1]: xxix 
    • Thousands of the Rolong people migrate from South Africa to Tati.[1]: xxix 
  • 1916
    • May – The Koena Tribal Council is formed to govern the Koena people.[1]: xxix 
    • 18 June – Moeapitso kills his brother Seepapitso II.[1]: xxix 
    • November – The resident commissioner disbands the Koena Tribal Council.[1]: xxix 
  • 1918
    • The Spanish flu reaches the Bechuanaland Protectorate.[1]: xxix 
    • 12 February – Koena kgosi Sechele II dies. He is succeeded by Sebele II.[1]: xxix 
  • 1919
    • July – The Native Advisory Council is established.[1]: xxix 
  • 1920
    • 2 March – The European Advisory Council is established.[1]: xxix 
    • 24 December – The Birwa people are expelled from the Tuli Block and sent to Bobonong.[1]: xxix 

1920–1929
  • 1923
    • 21 February – Mangwato kgosi Khama III dies.[1]: xxx 
  • 1926
    • 19 January – Tshekedi Khama becomes regent kgosi of the Mangwato tribe.[1]: xxx 
  • 1928
    • April – Bathoen II becomes kgosi of the Ngwaketse tribe.[1]: xxx 
  • 1929
    • November – Molefi becomes kgosi of the Kgafela Kgatla, replacing regent Isang Pilane.[1]: xxx 

1930–1939
  • 1930 – Charles Rey is appointed resident commissioner of the protectorate.[1]: xxx 
  • 1931
    • 7 May – Charles Rey overthrows Koena kgosi Sebele II and banishes him to Ghanzi.[1]: xxx 
  • 1933
    • 8 April – Kgosi Gobuamang surrenders to the British.[1]: xxx 
    • August – Charles Rey suspends Ngwato regent Tshekedi Khama after he has a European flogged.[1]: xxx 
  • 1936
    • 30 October – Charles Rey suspends Kgafela Kgatla kgosi Molefi and reinstates regent Isang Pilane.[1]: xxx 
  • 1937 – Charles Rey ends his tenure as resident commissioner. He is replaced by Charles Arden-Clarke.[1]: xxx 
  • 1939 – The protectorate enters World War II, with 10,000 Batswana serving in the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps.[1]: xxxi 

1940–1949
  • 1941 – Kgafela Kgatla regent Isang Pilane dies.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1942 – Kgafela Kgatla regent Mmusi joins the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps, and the Zion Christian Church establishes a ruling council over Kgafela Kgatla.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1944 – Naledi Ya Batswana begins publication through government subsidies.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1945
    • Moremi III is suspended as kgosi of the Tawana people.[1]: xxxi 
    • Molefi is restored as kgosi of Kgafela Kgatla.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1946
    • Tawana kgosi Moremi III dies.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1947
    • February – Elizabeth Pulane Moremi is appointed as the Tawana regent.[1]: xxxi 
    • September – The Ngwato people attack the village led by John Nswazwi, forcing him to flee the protectorate.[1]: xxxi 
  • 1948 – Seretse Khama, heir to the Mangwato tribe, controversially marries Ruth Williams, a white British woman.[2]: 18  The United Kingdom banishes Khama from the Bechuanaland Protectorate.[4]: 26 
  • 1949
    • 25 June – The Mangwato tribe endorses the marriage of Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams during a kgotla. Regent Tshekedi Khama, who did not wish to endorse the marriage, leaves the tribe.[1]: xxxi [4]: 26 
    • 6 December – The Bechuanaland Protectorate takes direct control over the Ngwato tribe rather than allowing Sertse Khama to rule.[1]: xxxi 

1950–1959
  • 1951
  • 1952
    • The Bamangwato National Congress forms to represent Seretse Khama.[1]: xxxii  Riots take place in protest of his exile.[3]
    • 11 September – A 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurs in Botswana.[5]
    • 11 October – A 6.7 magnitude earthquake occurs in Botswana.[5]
  • 1953
    • 13 May – Rasebolai Kgamane is placed in charge of the Ngwato Reserve.[1]: xxxii 
  • 1956
    • Seretse Khama is permitted to return to Botswana after renouncing his claim to the Ngwato tribe.[2]: 19  Seretse Khama and Tshekedi Khama both renounce their claims in favour of creating the Ngwato Tribal Council that limits the kgosi. Similar councils were adopted by other tribes soon afterward.[4]: 26 
    • 9 October – Rasebolai Kgamane becomes the Ngwato kgosi.[1]: xxxii 
  • 1957
    • September – Elections are held to create democratic local councils.[1]: xxxii 
  • 1958
    • The first tarred road in Botswana is paved in Lobatse.[2]: 40 
    • British advisory councils request the creation of a legislature for the protectorate.[4]: 26 
  • 1959
    • Copper mines are created in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.[3]
    • April – The Bechuanaland Protectorate Federal Party is established by Leetile Disang Raditladi.[1]: xxxii 
    • 2 June – Bamangwato Concessions Limited is founded by Tshekedi Khama and Rhodesian Selection Trust.[1]: xxxii 
    • June – Tshekedi Khama dies.[1]: xxxii 

1960–1966

Republic of Botswana (1966–present)

1966–1969
Main article: 1960s in Botswana
  • 1966
  • 1967
    • July – Diamonds are discovered in Orapa.[1]: xxxiii 
    • 29 September – The Mineral Rights in Tribal Territories Act and the Mines and Minerals Act grand the government control over mining.
  • 1968
    • The Tribal Land Act is passed, moving power over land allocation from the kgosis to land boards.[1]: xxxiii 
  • 1969
    • Bathoen II leaves the Botswana Democratic Party and resigns his status as kgosi of the Ngwaketse to join the Botswana National Front.[1]: xxxiii 
    • 23 June – The Debswana mining company is established.[1]: xxxiii 
    • 18 October – The first national election of Botswana is held. The Botswana Democratic Party is challenged by the Botswana National Front but maintains its majority.[1]: xxxiii [4]: 32–33 
    • December – Selebi-Phikwe is founded.[1]: xxxiv 

1970–1979
Main article: 1970s in Botswana
  • 1970
    • The Botswana Development Corporation is established.[4]: 95 
    • January – The power to allocate tribal land is transferred from the kgosis to independent land boards under the Tribal Land Act.[1]: xxxiv 
  • 1971
  • 1974
  • 1975
    • The Selebi-Phikwe mine opens.[2]: 22 
    • The Tribal Grazing Lands Policy is established.[4]: 67 
  • 1976
  • 1977
    • January – The United Nations passes a resolution demanding that Rhodesian forces end their hostilities along the Botswana–Rhodesia border.[3]
    • 15 April – The Botswana Defence Force is established.[1]: xxxv 
  • 1979
    • 13 April – The Gaborone–Francistown Highway is completed.[1]: xxxv 
    • 20 October – The 1979 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.[1]: xxxv 

1980–1989
Main article: 1980s in Botswana
  • 1980
  • 1981 – A drought in Southern Africa begins, destroying approximately 75% of crops in Botswana.[2]: 24  It will continue until 1987.[4]: 68 
  • 1982
    • The Financial Assistance Policy is implemented to provide grants for businesses.[4]: 98 
    • February – The Jwaneng diamond mine is established.[1]: xxxv 
    • June – The Botswana Progressive Union is founded.[1]: xxxv 
    • September – The University of Botswana is founded.[1]: xxxv 
  • 1983
  • 1984
  • 1985
    • 1985 – HIV is first identified in Botswana, beginning the nation's HIV epidemic.[1]: 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.[3]
  • 1986
    • 17 April – Botswana's first women's rights group, Emang Basadi, is established.[1]: 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.[1]: xxxvi 
    • 1 October – Botswana Railways is established.[1]: xxxvi 
    • November – The constitution is amended so that only citizens of Botswana can serve as president.[1]: xxxvi 
  • 1989

1990–1999
Main article: 1990s in Botswana
  • 1990 – Namibia is established as an independent country to the west of Botswana, giving the country another route to the ocean beside South Africa.[4]: 69 
  • 1991
    • Sowa Soda Ash Works is established.[1]: xxxvii 
    • 12,000 public sector employees are removed from their positions for engaging in strike action.[3]
  • 1992
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • mid-1990s – The government of Botswana adopts a policy of forced displacement against the San people.[2]: 31 
  • 1995
    • 16 February – The parliament building and downtown Gaborone are attacked by students.[1]: xxxvii 
  • 1996 – Universal pensions are established.[1]: xxxviii 
  • 1997
    • The Vision 2016 economic plan is launched.[1]: 2 
    • Botho University is founded.
    • April – Omang national identity cards are introduced.[1]: xxxviii 
    • October – A referendum is held to create the Independent Electoral Commission, to lower the voting age to 18, to set term limits on the presidency, and to allow automatic succession of the vice president in the event of a presidential vacancy. All three motions pass.[1]: xxxviii 
  • 1998
  • 1999
    • 17 May – Yarona FM becomes the first private radio station in Botswana.[1]: xxxviii 
    • September – A state of emergency is declared for six days following issues with voter registration.[3]
    • 16 October – The 1999 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.[1]: xxxviii  The Botswana Congress Party had acquired seats from members that left the Botswana National Front, but it loses most of these seats.[4]: 34 
    • 13 December – The International Court of Justice rules that Botswana, not Namibia, has jurisdiction over Sedudu Island.[1]: xxxviii 

2000–2009
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
    • February – Botswana begins forcibly evicting the San people from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.[1]: xxxix 
    • March – A court case challenging the removal of the San people is dismissed.[3]
    • July – Botswana adopts a value-added tax.[1]: xl 
    • October – Botswana and South Africa jointly establish a reservation for the Khomani San and Mier peoples.[2]: 35 
  • 2003
  • 2004
    • August – A strike among diamond miners ends with approximately one thousand workers losing their jobs when a court determines that the strike was illegal.[3]
    • 30 October – The 2004 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.[1]: xli 
  • 2005
    • September – Women are permitted to enlist in the Botswana Defence Force.[1]: xli 
    • October – The government of Botswana expels all but 250 of the San people from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.[2]: 32 
    • The Three Dikgosi Monument is inaugurated.
  • 2006
    • December – The courts find that the forced displacement of the San people is unconstitutional.[2]: 33 
  • 2007 – Uranium deposits are discovered in Botswana.[2]: 22 
  • 2008
    • The Public Service Act of 2008 allows the creation of the labour union BOFEPUSU.[1]: 3 
    • March – The Diamond Trading Company Botswana is established.[3]
    • April – Ian Khama becomes President of Botswana.[2]: 20 
  • 2009

2010–2019

2020–present

References
  1. Morton, Barry; Ramsay, Jeff (2018). Historical Dictionary of Botswana (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-1133-8.
  2. Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2009). Botswana Since Independence. New Africa Press. ISBN 978-0-9802587-8-3.
  3. "Botswana profile - Timeline". BBC News. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  4. Leith, J. Clark (2005). Why Botswana Prospered. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 978-0-7735-7241-6.
  5. Simon, Re; Kwadiba, Mto; King, Jg; Moidaki, M (2012). "A History of Botswana's Seismic Network". Botswana Notes and Records. 44: 184–192. ISSN 0525-5090.
  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. ISBN 978-1-55587-285-4.
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