Seretse Khama first President of Botswana, with his wife Ruth Williams, 1965

Seretse Kama founding President of Botswana in 1966-1980 here with his wife Ruth Williams arriving in London airport October 20, 1965. Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, KBE (1921–80) was the first president of Botswana. Born into one of the more powerful of the royal families of what was then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland, and educated abroad in neighbouring South Africa and in the United Kingdom, he returned home to lead his country's independence movement. He founded the Botswana Democratic Party in 1962 and became Prime Minister in 1965. In 1966, Botswana gained independence and Khama became its first president