The former president of the Republic of Botswana, President Festus Mogae was recently honoured by an Oxford college he attended as a young man, University College, Oxford. The college unveiled in the College Hall, a portrait of Mogae painted by the famous British artist, David Cobley. Mogae read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Oxford University in 1965. University College is the oldest Oxford college founded in 1249.
Festus Gontebanye Mogae was born in Serowe on August 21, 1939, making him 77 years of age this year. Mogae, the son of Botalaote headman of Serowe, studied at Moeng College before proceeding to the prestigious University of Oxford in England. Later, he went to the University of Sussex in Brighton to read for a Masters in Development Economics. He is married to Barbara Mogae and has three children: Chedza, Nametso and Boikaego.
Before he became the third president of Botswana, President Mogae built a solid career in the civil service, in particular, in the Ministry of Development Planning which was later renamed Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Mogae distinguished himself during the presidency of Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire presidency (1980-1998) as he steered the country through some very difficult developmental years. Mogae’s leadership skills were not just refined by his outstanding service to the nation of Botswana as a civil servant, he also worked for the IMF (International Monetary Fund) from 1976 as the Executive Director for Anglophone Africa. The years at the IMF were some of the most important years for Mogae which equipped him with broader economic politics of Africa and the world. In the year that President Masire took over as president, 1980, Festus Mogae returned to Botswana to take over as the Governor of Bank of Botswana. Mogae did not stay long in this position as in 1982 he became Permanent Secretary to the President until 1989 when he quit government to join active politics of the Botswana Democratic Party. He was appointed Minister of Finance and Development Planning. He then stood and won elections for the Palapye MP seat and in 1992 he was appointed Masire’s Vice President. When Masire retired from the presidency in 1998, Festus Mogae succeeded him as the third president of the Republic of Botswana. When he took over in 1998, Festus Mogae was probably the most prepared for the office of President compared to his successors. He was in receipt of advanced training compared to both Seretse Khama and Quett Masire. He had also worked in government in very senior posts more than any of them. At an international level, he had worked in the international office of the IMF overseeing Anglophone Africa, a position which sharpened him for the presidency later.
Festus Mogae, became president when the full scourge of HIV/Aids was being felt across Africa. He lobbied the international community to assist Botswana in combating HIV/Aids which was decimating Botswana’s health system and larger economy. Locally and continentally, he was at the forefront of the war on HIV and Aids. He led the country with distinction sometimes through the political turbulence of BDP factions. He attempted to stay far much above such factions with minimum success. Mogae was committed to democracy. He allowed free press and loved to debate those who deferred with him on any matter. This is one of his major strengths. During his presidency he fought the negative publicity against Botswana waged by Survival International. He maintained good relations with Botswana’s neighbours and resolved most differences through negotiations or through the courts of law. For instance, the Kasikili/Sedudu case though having its roots in 1996 during Masire’s era, it was resolved on December 1999 during the presidency of Festus Mogae. The matter was brought to the International Court of Justice by a joint letter from Botswana and Namibia dated May 17, 1996 for the Court: “…to determine, on the basis of the Anglo-German Treaty of 1 July 1890 [an agreement between Great Britain and Germany respecting the spheres of influence of the two countries in Africa] and the rules and principles of international law, the boundary between Namibia and Botswana around Kasikili/Sedudu Island and the legal status of the island.” The Botswana government, represented by an Oxford-trained lawyer won the case. Eleven out of fifteen judges of ICJ who presided over the matter found that Kasikili/Sedudu Island forms part of the territory of the Republic of Botswana.
Festus Mogae’s second term to the Presidency ended on April 2008. Later that year, 2008, Festus Mogae won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which carried a $5 million award over 10 years, a $200,000 annual lifetime stipend thereafter, and a discretionary $200,000 sum to be awarded (per year, for a decade) to Mogae-designated “good causes.” President Festus Mogae is also a recipient of the Grand Croix of the L├®gion d’honneur for his “exemplary leadership” in making Botswana a “model” of democracy and good governance; an award bestowed on him by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on March 20, 2008. He currently serves as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change. He is also a trustee of The Rhodes Trust.
President Mogae is one of the finest African presidents in possession of a superior rare intellect and outstanding academic credentials. That the University of Oxford has immortalised him in its hallowed halls is not surprising and most appropriate. To him I say: “Congratulations dear Oxon! We are most proud of your achievement.”
