Masire, Quett Ketumile Joni (1925– )

Botswanan politician; president 1980–98. In 1962, with Seretse Khama, he founded the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and in 1965 was made deputy prime minister. After independence in 1966, he became vice-president and, on Khama's death in 1980, president, continuing a policy of non-alignment. He retired in March 1998 and was succeeded by Festus Mogae of the BDP.

Masire was a journalist before entering politics, sitting in the Bangwaketse tribal council and then the legislative council before cofounding the BDP. A centrist, he helped Botswana become one of the most stable states in Africa.