Editing History of Botswana (section)

=== Presidency of Ian Khama ===
[[File:London Conference on The Illegal Wildlife Trade (12499797834).jpg|thumb|Ian Khama meeting with [[William Hague]] in London]]
Ian Khama succeeded to the presidency at the end of Mogae's term on 1 April 2008.{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=306}} His style of leadership was advertised as following the "four Ds": democracy, development, dignity, and discipline.{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|p=196}} After taking office, he restructured the nation's executive in a more hierarchical manner, centralising power around the presidency.{{Sfn|Rotberg|2023|pp=227–228}}

Khama placed emphasis on national security in his administration. During his tenure, the [[Directorate of Intelligence and Security]] came to be known for politically motivated espionage and arrests against his political opponents. He also appointed several former military figures in his government{{Sfn|Brown|2020|pp=714–715}} Botswana was less involved in the [[African Union]] during Khama's presidency, instead presenting a more Western-orientated foreign policy.{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|p=190}}

The [[2008 financial crisis]] pressured Botswana's economy, which remained dependent on diamond mines despite the government's efforts.{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|p=202}} The diamond industry ended a steady decline when it stabilised at about 39% of the nation's GDP in 2009.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=110}}

Regulation of chiefs was reformed in 2008 with the [[Bogosi Act]].{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=140}} Khama supported devolving power to the chiefs in the name of restoring discipline and traditional morality.{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|pp=196–197}} He issued a directive that increased the legal drinking age to 21, empowered minor tribal leaders to order floggings, created ''mephato'' groups to be vigilantes, and reintroduced [[corporal punishment in schools]].{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|p=197}} Several newly installed chiefs endorsed this policy and implemented stricter punishments for wrongdoers.{{Sfn|Mosime|2020|p=197}} Among these was [[Kgafela II]], chief of the Kgatla people. To enforce traditional morality among his people, he significantly increased the use of flogging for those who violated the law. Kgafela and others involved were criminally charged for misusing the punishment in 2010, and the court dismissed his claim of immunity, determining that chiefs lack sovereignty and are subject to the constitution.{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=157}}

As the BDP chose its party leadership in 2009, Khama appointed numerous A-Team figures to party sub-committees despite the victory of the Barata-Phathi during the party's congress.{{Sfn|Lotshwao|Suping|2013|pp=347–348}}{{Sfn|Botlhomilwe|Sebudubudu|Maripe|2011|p=335}} When the party's secretary general [[Gomolemo Motswaledi]] consulted with lawyers to question the legality of Khama's actions, Khama had him suspended from the committee. After taking the issue to court, it was found that the incumbent president is immune from legal prosecution, and Khama suspended Motswaledi from the BDP entirely.{{Sfn|Botlhomilwe|Sebudubudu|Maripe|2011|p=335}} In early 2010, Khama suspended and then expelled several other members of the Barata-Phathi faction from the BDP.{{Sfn|Lotshwao|Suping|2013|pp=354–355}} This led to the BDP's first major split in March when the Barata-Phathi faction left the party to form the [[Botswana Movement of Democracy]].{{Sfn|Lotshwao|Suping|2013|p=345}}{{Sfn|Botlhomilwe|Sebudubudu|Maripe|2011|p=344}}

The Public Service Act took effect in 2010, legalising strikes for civil servants under some circumstances.{{Sfn|Gulbrandsen|2012|p=306}} The following year, the [[Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions]] (BOFEPUSU) led a two-month strike among the nation's civil service to demand a 16% pay, and the government responded by removing thousands of employees from their positions.{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=306}} The removals were overseen by [[Mokgweetsi Masisi]], the [[Minister for Presidential Affairs (Botswana)|Minister for Presidential Affairs]].{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=307}} To oppose the government's position, BOFEPUSU facilitated a merger of major opposition parties into the [[Umbrella for Democratic Change]] (UDC).{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=306}} This new group was led by [[Duma Boko]], who had taken charge of the BNF in 2010 and moderated its rhetoric.{{Sfn|Brown|2020|p=715}}

Khama implemented strong conservation reforms during his presidency, especially regarding hunting. While applauded internationally and forming the reputation of Botswana as a "green miracle", they were met with frustration domestically because of the unilateral top-down means they were implemented, especially from those living in the designated conservation areas.{{Sfn|LaRocco|Mogende|2022|p=23}} These policies included an escalation of military anti-poaching practices; anti-poaching units were equipped with automatic firearms to complement a shoot-to-kill policy against suspected poachers.{{Sfn|LaRocco|Mogende|2022|p=31}}

The BDP retained its majority in the legislature after [[2014 Botswana general election|the following election]], but for the first time it did so with only a plurality of the popular vote.{{Sfn|Brown|2020|p=705}} Ian Khama then appointed Masisi as his vice-president.{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=307}} The decision was controversial because of Masisi's inexperience relative to other possible choices.{{Sfn|LaRocco|Mogende|2022|p=33}} According to Mogae, Masisi was chosen with the understanding that he would appoint [[Tshekedi Khama II]] as vice-president after taking the presidency himself.{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=307}} [[Botsalo Ntuane]] was elected Secretary General of the BDP in 2015 on a platform of anti-corruption and electoral reform. This threatened the entrenched nature of the BDP, and Ntuane found a political rival in Masisi.{{Sfn|Makgala|Malila|2022|p=307}}  Khama was hostile to the press, especially toward outlets that disagreed with his administration's actions. He had two journalists charged with [[sedition]] in 2017, but the chargers were later dropped.{{Sfn|Brown|2020|p=714}}