Administration, Legislative Govenment of Botswana President Botswana

Ian Khama served as Commander of the Botswana Defense Force until March 31, 1998 when he retired. The next day, April 1^st, he was appointed as the Vice President of Botswana. He then took his seat in the National Assembly and was sworn in as Vice-President on July 13. Khama remained Vice President as well as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public administration when his party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), won the general election of October 1999. President at the time, Mogae, granted Khama a one-year leave later in the year, a decision that the opposition Botswana Congress Party and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organizations sharply criticized. Khama's leave became effective on January 1, 2000. He returned to his duties as Vice-President on September 1, 2000. Khama, already a member of the BDP Central Committee,was elected as Chairman of the BDP on July 22, 2003 at a party congress. Khama had been backed for the post by President Mogae, and the outcome was viewed as crucial, paving the way for Khama to eventually succeed Mogae as President. Mogae stepped down, as he had long said he would do,on April 1, 2008, handing power to Khama.