Front: Seretse Khama (1921-1980), first President of Botswana 1966-1980

Seretse Khama was the grandson of Khama III, king of the Bamangwato people. He became king in 1925 at the age of 4, with his uncle served as his regent and guardian. Seretse Khama received his education in South Africa and graduated from Fort Hare University College in 1944. He trained as a barrister in London.

In London, he met and married an English woman, Ruth Williams, in 1947. The interracial marriage caused political furor in the apartheid government of South Africa, and he was forced into exile from Bechuanaland in 1951.

Seretse and Ruth Khama were allowed to return to Bechuanaland in 1956. He founded the nationalist Bechuanaland Democratic Party in 1961, and was elected Prime Minister of Bechuanaland in 1965. Seretse Khama became Botswana's first President when it gained independence in 1966.

Back: Farmer milking cow

Front: Quett Ketumile Joni Masire (1925-) second President of Botswana 1980-1998

Masire was a secondary school teacher and headmaster from 1949 to 1955. He co-founded the Botswana Democratic Party with Seretse Masire. He became Vice President after Botswana's independence in 1966, and President in 1980. He retired from public office in 1998.

Back: Various workers

Front: Quett Ketumile Joni Masire (1925-) second President of Botswana 1980-1998

Back: Gemsbok antelope

Front: Festus Gontebanye Mogae (1939-) current president of Botswana since 1998

Mogae was educated at Oxford University, majoring in economics. He had previously worked for the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana. He was Vice President of Botswana from 1992 to 1998, and became President in 1998.

Back: Parliament building

Front: Kgalemang Tumedisco Motsete (1900-1974), composer

Motsete wrote and composed Fatshe leno la rona (Blessed Be This Noble Land). It was adopted as the national anthem of Botswana upon independence in 1966.

Back: Mining conveyors