The following lists events that happened during the 1980s in Botswana.

Incumbents

President:
- Seretse Khama (1966–1980)
- Quett Masire (1980–1998)
Vice President
- Quett Masire (1966–1980)
- Lenyeletse Seretse (1980–1983)
- Peter Mmusi (1983–1992)

Events

A drought in Southern Africa begins, destroying approximately 75% of crops in Botswana.^[2]^: 24 It will continue until 1987.^[3]^: 68

The Financial Assistance Policy is implemented to provide grants for businesses.^[3]^: 98
Botswana National Museum hosts Culture & Resistance Conference, 5–9 July 1982.^[4]
February – The Jwaneng diamond mine is established.^[5]^: xxxv
June – The Botswana Progressive Union is founded.^[5]^: xxxv
September – The University of Botswana is founded.^[5]^: xxxv

3 January – Vice President Lenyeletse Seretse dies. Peter Mmusi becomes vice president.^[5]^: xxxv
A labour law is passed limiting the right to unionise.^[6]^: 79

The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport opens.^[5]^: xxxvi
May – The Public Service Act allows civil servants to operate in the private sector.^[5]^: xxxvi
8 September – The 1984 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.^[5]^: xxxvi

1985 – HIV is first identified in Botswana, beginning the nation's HIV epidemic.^[5]^: xxxvi
14 June – South African soldiers invade Botswana and attack the headquarters of a South African anti-apartheid group in Gabarone.^[2]^: 20 12 people are killed, and the action is condemned in a resolution by the United Nations.^[1]

17 April – Botswana's first women's rights group, Emang Basadi, is established.^[5]^: xxxvi

A referendum is held to form a Supervisor of Elections. It passes with 78.1% of the vote.
The university is closed for several months in response to student protests against police misconduct.^[6]^: 79
May – Morupule Electric Power Station is established.^[5]^: xxxvi
1 October – Botswana Railways is established.^[5]^: xxxvi
November – The constitution is amended so that only citizens of Botswana can serve as president.^[5]^: xxxvi

Free secondary education is made available in Botswana.^[6]^: 82
7 October – The 1989 Botswana general election is held. The Botswana Democratic Party maintains its majority.^[5]^: xxxvi

1980
- 13 July – Seretse Khama, President of Botswana
1982
- Benjamin Thema, Minister of Education
- 16 September – Keoagetse Radipotsane, Batswana football player
1983
- 3 January – Lenyeletse Seretse, vice-president of Botswana
1986
- Archelaus Tsoebebe, Minister of Labour and Social Services
- 17 April – Bessie Head, writer

^ ^a ^b "Botswana profile - Timeline". BBC News. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2009). Botswana Since Independence. New Africa Press. ISBN 978-0-9802587-8-3.
^ ^a ^b Leith, J. Clark (2005). Why Botswana Prospered. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. doi:10.1515/9780773572416. ISBN 978-0-7735-7241-6.
^ "Culture & Resistance Conference (1982)". Retrieved 2022-02-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Morton, Barry; Ramsay, Jeff (2018). Historical Dictionary of Botswana (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-1133-8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Holm, John D.; Molutsi, Patrick P. (1992). "State-Society Relations in Botswana: Beginning Liberalization". In Hydén, Göran; Bratton, Michael (eds.). Governance and Politics in Africa. L. Rienner. pp. 75–95. doi:10.1515/9781685853297. ISBN 978-1-55587-285-4.

v t e Years in Botswana (1966–present)
History Timeline
20th century	Pre-1966 1966–1969 1970–1979 1980–1989 1990–1999
21st century	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024