26 Jan 2025

Family member, Ms Kelebogile Lecoge has confirmed to Btv News Desk that the former Cabinet minister died Sunday morning aged 102, having been born on October 22, 1922.

Dr Chiepe was the first female Cabinet member in 1974.

She was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry (1977-1984), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1984-1994) as well as that of Education (1994-1999).

She was elected Serowe West MP in a bye-election in 1977. Dr Chiepe, a Botswana Democratic Party stalwart, had been Botswana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria as well as an Ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and European Economic Community.

Dr Chiepe has been awarded both the Presidential Order of Merit and the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service. She was also made a Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by the King of Sweden and a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

She has received honourary doctorates from University of Bristol in Britain, De Paul University in United States and Fort Hare in South Africa, where she also schooled. In 2009 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Botswana for her outstanding work in the development of Botswana. ENDS