Gamal Abdel Nasser's graduation ceremony drew five million mourners.
Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama , GCB , KBE -LRB- 1 July 1921 -- 13 July 1980 -RRB- was the first President of Botswana , in office from 1966 to 1980 .. President of Botswana. List of heads of state of Botswana. KBE. Order of British Empire. Botswana. Botswana. GCB. Order of the Bath. President. President of Botswana. Born into one of the most powerful of the royal families of what was then the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland , he was educated abroad in neighbouring South Africa and in the United Kingdom .. Bechuanaland. Bechuanaland Protectorate. royal families. royal family. British Protectorate. British Empire. South Africa. South Africa. United Kingdom. United Kingdom. He married a British woman , Ruth Williams , who initially was controversial because of her English ancestry .. Ruth Williams. Ruth Williams Khama. She became popular among his people .. Khama led his country 's independence movement .. He founded the Botswana Democratic Party in 1962 and became Prime Minister in 1965 .. Botswana Democratic Party. Botswana Democratic Party. Botswana. Botswana. In 1966 , Botswana gained independence and Khama was elected as its first president .. Botswana. Botswana. During his presidency , the country underwent rapid economic and social progress .