Editing Politics of Botswana (section)

=== Presidency of Seretse Khama ===

Upon receiving self-governance, the nation held the [[1965 Bechuanaland general election]], in which the BDP won a large victory. Of the 31 seats in the legislature, the BDP won 28. Three members of the Botswana People's Party made up the [[Parliamentary opposition|opposition]], all elected from relatively urbanised constituencies.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=31}} The government under the first president, Seretse Khama, was based heavily on collaborative governance similar to that of the pre-colonial tribal governments. Policies were often considered by several ministries and a commission before being adopted.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=56}} Khama also ensured that foreign involvement was welcome, opposed to a nationalism that restricted opportunity.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=57}}

While Khama was president, his vice president, [[Quett Masire]], held considerable power as well. In addition to being the vice president, he was the minister of finance and he was the secretary general of the BDP. He oversaw a series of [[National Development Plan (Botswana)|National Development Plans]] that dispensed much of the government's policies.{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=58}} Regional instability prompted the creation of a military, the [[Botswana Defence Force]], in 1977. Prior to this, the [[Botswana Police Service]] handled all of the nation's security responsibilities.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Beaulier |first1=Scott A. |last2=Subrick |first2=J. Robert |date=2006 |title=The Political Foundations of Development: The Case of Botswana |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10602-006-0002-x |journal=Constitutional Political Economy|volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=103–115 |doi=10.1007/s10602-006-0002-x |s2cid=59354401 |issn=1043-4062}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> The [[Botswana National Front]] (BNF) was founded by [[Kenneth Koma]] as a left-wing party and it became the opposition party in the [[1969 Botswana general election|1969 general election]].{{Sfn|Leith|2005|p=33}}