Hon Justice Professor OBK Dingake: Justice of the National & Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea, and Professor of Constitutional Theory, San Beda University, Philippines.
1. INTRODUCTION
I learnt with deep sadness of the passing of President Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the third President of the Republic of Botswana. Unfortunately, being trapped in the Pacific more than twenty‑five hours of flying time from Gaborone, I could not join the multitudes of our people who gathered to bid him farewell. Yet even from afar, my heart stood among them, mourning a statesman whose life was a beacon of wisdom and a guardian of democracy. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his dear wife, Mma Nametso, members of his family, relatives, friends, the Government of Botswana, to his party, the Botswana Democratic Party, and to the nation at large. In his departure, we have lost not only a leader but a father of our democracy, a custodian of our dignity, and a servant of humanity. President Mogae was not a saint, but he was an extra-ordinary and consequential leader of our Republic.
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