1970s in Botswana

The following lists events that happened during the 1970s in Botswana.

Incumbents

• President: Seretse Khama (1966–1980)
• Vice President: Quett Masire (1966–1980)

Events

1970

• The Botswana Development Corporation is established.^: 95
• Botswana establishes diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.
• January – The power to allocate tribal land is transferred from the kgosis to independent land boards under the Tribal Land Act.
• 6 March – Botswana establishes diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia.
• July – The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is established.
• September – President Seretse goes to Lusaka to speak at the Non-Aligned Movement summit.

1971

• 1 July – The Orapa diamond mine is established.
• 1 September – Simon Hirshfeldt becomes the first Motswana police commissioner.

1972

• March – Botswana becomes financially independent from the United Kingdom.

1973

• 15 January – Botswana sends its first citizen to train in the diamond industry in the United Kingdom.
• 15 January – The Agricultural Resources (Conservation) Act is passed.

1974

• The Selebi-Phikwe mine opens.^: 22
• The Tribal Grazing Lands Policy is established.^: 67
• January – The Botswana Agricultural Market Board is established.
• March – Botswana ends its recognition of the Republic of China, instead recognizing the People's Republic of China.
• 26 October – The 1974 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.

1975

• Botswana increases its governmental stake in Debswana to 50%.

1976

• Kimberlite diamonds are discovered in Jwaneng.
• July – Student protests in South Africa cause refugees to flee to Botswana.
• 26 July – President Khama visits China.
• 23 August – The Bank of Botswana is established. The Botswana pula replaces the South African rand as Botswana's official currency.

1977

• January – The United Nations passes a resolution demanding that Rhodesian forces end their hostilities along the Botswana–Rhodesia border.
• April – The pula is valued at 5% above the rand.
• 15 April – The Botswana Defence Force is established.
• 19 April – Mompati Merafhe and Ian Khama are appointed commander and deputy commander of the Botswana Defence Force, respectively.
• October – Four people are arrested as they travel through Botswana to serve in the military in Rhodesia.
• 4 October - A referendum on electoral reform was held.

1978

• Botswana Football Association is affiliated with FIFA (international governing body of association football).
• Medu Art Ensemble relocates to Gaborone, Botswana.
• 27 February – A skirmish at Leshoma sees fifteen soldiers of the Botswana Defence Force killed by Rhodesian soldiers.
• 29 March – Three suspected mercenaries from Rhodesia are killed in the Tuli Block.
• 11 September – The University of Botswana closes amid riots.

1979

• 13 April – The Gaborone–Francistown Highway is completed.
• 13 April – 14 members of the Zimbabwe African People's Union are kidnapped in Francistown by Rhodesian soldiers.
• July – Botswana co-founds the Southern African Development Coordination Conference.
• July – Queen Elizabeth II visits Gaborone and gives President Khama his second knighthood.
• 20 October – The 1979 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.

Births

• 1973
  • 2 March – Patrick Lebekwe, Botswana footballer
• 1976
  • 23 April – Phazha Butale, Botswana footballer
• 1977
  • 28 July – Anthony Matengu, Botswana footballer
• 1978
  • 23 August – Ditaola Ditaola, Botswana footballer
  • 19 September – Kabelo Kgosiang, Botswana footballer
  • 14 November – Odirile Gaolebale, retired Botswanan footballer
  • 29 December – Agisanyang Mosimanegape, Botswana former footballer

Deaths

• 1970
  • 12 January – Russell England
• 1971
  • Leetile Disang Raditladi
• 1973
  • 20 August – Jules Ellenberger
• 1975
  • Benjamin Steinberg
• 1977
  • Motlatsi Segokgo
  • 16 May – Bakwana Kgosidintsi Kgari
• 1979
  • Ntebogang Ratshosa
  • 29 October – Philip Matante

See also

• History of Botswana
• List of Botswana-related topics
• Outline of Botswana
• Timeline of Botswana

References