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The Lady Khama Charitable Trust Kwando Safaris is honoured to support the ‘Lady Khama Charitable Trust’ and operates a ‘matching’ scheme for the benefit of the Trust and its associated charitable causes. International guests are offered a chance to contribute to a very worthy cause and Kwando Safaris pledges to match their contribution. The Khamas: A Royal Couple The marriage in 1948 provoked political uproar in South Africa as the then apartheid government had recently banned interracial marriage. The marriage was also not well received within the elders of the tribe and the Regent of the tribe, Seretse’s uncle Tshekedi demanded his return to Bechuanaland and an annulment of the marriage. The political upheaval that resulted cannot be underestimated and serious tensions arose between the governments of the UK, Southern Rhodesia and South Africa. The issue was regularly debated in Parliament in both England and South Africa. The apartheid government of South Africa exerted pressure on the UK government to end the marriage, and for wider reasons of trade and relationships between the counties at the time, the British government launched a parliamentary enquiry to assess Seretse Khama’s fitness to rule. The findings of the report, which was suppressed for a further thirty years, was that he was entirely fit to rule “but for his unfortunate marriage.” Seretse and Ruth Khama were then exiled from Bechuanaland in 1951. The exile lasted for 5 years and following national and international outcry against the UK government’s treatment of the young King and his wife, they were allowed to return home to Bechuanaland on the agreement that Seretse renounced his throne. In 1956 the couple and their two young children, Jacqueline and Ian, returned home to much jubilation. Lady Khama was an influential, politically active First Lady during her husband's tenure as president from 1966 to 1980, when he died following serious illness. The passing of her husband had little effect on the importance the nation placed on Lady Khama, being the perceived ‘mother’ of the country. Lady Khama was always associated with charity and NGO sectors in Botswana, and in her lifetime founded and supported numerous causes. She was the founding member of among others, the Botswana Council of Women and The Botswana Red Cross Society. In her lifetime, Lady Khama made significant contributions to civil society organizations in Botswana. She was founding and first President of the Child to Child Foundation, and set up the Lady Khama Christmas Charity Fund. In a more personal capacity, and as a religious woman, she devoted time and energy into the Anglican Church’s services to disadvantaged people in local communities. Lady Khama’s lifelong hard work and unfaltering dedication to charitable work have not gone unnoticed. In 1971, in recognition of her contribution to the Botswana Red Cross Society, she awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Distinguished Service. Posthumously, Lady Khama was further awarded the Red Cross Lifetime Membership in 2008k and fund raising up to the time of her death in 2002. At no time were either Sir Seretse or Lady Khama bitter about the ill treatment they received following their marriage, and this positive and forgiving attitude is probably what people still speak of most when remembering this very special couple. The ‘Lady Khama Charitable Trust’ was established in 2002, with a view to continuing the charitable work that Lady Khama dedicated much of her life to. The Trust focuses on the disadvantaged and does so by supporting and initiating charitable undertakings throughout the country. In principle the Trust aims to target gender based organisations and those which assist disadvantaged children. The current Patron of the Trust is Lady Khama’s son, His Excellency the President of Botswana, Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and the Chairperson is her daughter, Ms Jacqueline Khama. Kwando Safaris and the Lady Khama Charitable Trust Kwando Safaris echoes the Lady Khama Charitable Trust’s commitment to Botswana charities and hence the introduction of a ‘matching’ program. For every tourist who donates to the Trust, Kwando Safaris will donate or ‘match’ an equal amount, up to a total of P500,000 per year. Donors can donate to the Trust and allow its trustees to decide which cause is most in need, or they can earmark their donation for particular use in organisations in a particular field whether it is gender empowerment, children etc.” Fundraising Activities of the ‘Lady Khama Charitable Trust’ Each year the Board of Trustees reviews its core beneficiaries and applications for support from new ones. The funds are assessed on case by case basis and The Trust prides itself in making sure that funds are used for their intended purpose and regular feedback and updates are given by its beneficiaries. Examples of organisations supported by the Trust include the following:
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Lady Ruth Khama (née Williams) was the wife of Botswana’s first president and former Kgosi (King) of the Bamangwato tribe, one of the eight principle tribes in Bechuanaland, Seretse Khama. She was a former ‘Womens Auxiliary Air Force’ ambulance driver from Blackheath in London. The couple met in London while Sir Seretse, the heir to the Bamangwato throne, was attending Oxford University and she was working as a clerk at ‘Lloyds of London.’ 
In 1961 Seretse Khama formed the Bechunaland Democratic Party (BDP) assisted throughout by his extremely popular wife. The party won the first election in the country in 1965 and Seretse became Prime Minister of Bechunaland. He continued to push for the country’s independence and in 1966 officially gained independence from Britain. In the same year Seretse Khama was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Trust hosts a major fundraising event every year, and usually this alternates between a Gala Dinner and a family fun day. The Trust is proud to acknowledge that these annual events are highly popular and are generally oversubscribed. In addition to our own fundraising events the Trust looks to local and international donors to support its key beneficiaries.