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)

1970

 * The Botswana Development Corporation is established.
 * 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.
 * The Tribal Grazing Lands Policy is established.
 * 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