Festus Mogae
| Festus Gontebanye Mogae | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 3rd President of Botswana | |
| In office 1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008 |
|
| Vice President | Ian Khama |
| Preceded by | Quett Masire |
| Succeeded by | Ian Khama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 August 1939 Serowe, Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Mogae |
| Children | 3 |
| Religion | Christian |
Festus Gontebanye Mogae (born 21 August 1939) is a Botswana national who was President of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He succeeded Quett Masire as President in 1998 and was reelected in October 2004; after ten years in office, he stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant General Ian Khama. He is married to Barbara Mogae, and they have three children: Chedza, Nametso and Boikaego.
Mogae is of Kalanga (Western Shona) descent, from Serowe. This Kalanga group is called Badhalaunda, named after their king, Dhalaunda, and his native language is Kalanga/western Shona.
Mogae studied economics in the United Kingdom, first at University College, Oxford, and then at the University of Sussex. He returned to Botswana to work as a civil servant before taking up posts with the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of Botswana. He was Vice-President of Botswana from 1992 to 1998.
Mogae's party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), retained power in the October 1999 general election, and Mogae was sworn in for a five-year term on 20 October 1999[1][2] by Chief Justice Julian Nganunu at the National Stadium in Gaborone.[2] On this occasion, he vowed to focus on the fight against poverty and unemployment.[1]
Following the BDP's victory in the October 2004 general election, Mogae was sworn in for another term on 2 November 2004.[3] Mogae promised to tackle poverty and unemployment, as well as the spread of HIV-AIDS, which he pledged to stop in Botswana by 2016.[4]
On 14 July 2007, Mogae affirmed his intention to resign nine months later.[5]
Mogae was awarded the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 20 March 2008 for his "exemplary leadership" in making Botswana a "model" of democracy and good governance.[6] He stepped down as President on 1 April 2008 and was succeeded by Vice-President Ian Khama.
Mogae won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, and will receive US$ 5 million over 10 years and US$ 200,000 annually for life thereafter. At London's City Hall on 20 October 2008, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated: "President Mogae's outstanding leadership has ensured Botswana's continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people."[7][8]
Mogae currently serves as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change.[9] In 2010, he joined the advisory board of U.S. nonprofit TeachAIDS.[10] He also currently serves as chairman of the Choppies supermarket group where he earned Pula 529,000 in 2011.[11]
References [edit]
- ^ a b "BOTSWANA: Mogae sworn in as president", IRIN, 20 October 1999.
- ^ a b "Botswana: Festus Mogae sworn in as president", Radio Botswana (nl.newsbank.com), 20 October 1999.
- ^ "Update: Festus Mogae sworn in as president of Botswana", Xinhua (nl.newsbank.com), 2 November 2004.
- ^ The Government of Botswana– Vision 2016
- ^ "Botswana's Mogae set to retire", AFP (IOL), 15 July 2007.
- ^ "Sarkozy décore le président du Botswana pour sa bonne gouvernance", AFP, 20 March 2008 (French).
- ^ ap.google.com, Former president of Botswana gets leadership prize[dead link]
- ^ reuters.com, Botswana's Mogae wins African leadership prize
- ^ "Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General". United Nations. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, joins TeachAIDS Advisory Board". TeachAIDS. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- ^ Mosikare, Oarabile (19 October 2012). "Inequality defines Botswana". MmegiOnline. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter Mmusi |
Vice-President of Botswana 1992–1998 |
Succeeded by Ian Khama |
| Preceded by Quett Masire |
President of Botswana 1998–2008 |
Succeeded by Ian Khama |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by Joaquim Chissano |
Prize for Achievement in African Leadership 2008 |
Succeeded by Pedro Pires |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
- 1939 births
- Living people
- Presidents of Botswana
- Vice Presidents of Botswana
- Alumni of University College, Oxford
- Alumni of the University of Sussex
- Honorary Fellows of University College, Oxford
- Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur
- Botswana Democratic Party politicians
- Recipients of the Presidential Order of Honour (Botswana)
- Recipients of the National Order of the Ivory Coast
