30 Jan 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko yesterday visited the family of the late Dr Gaositwe Chiepe to pay his condolences after the passing of Dr Chiepe recently.

Dr Gaositwe Chiepe who was a former minister died on Sunday aged 102, and will be buried tomorrow at Phomolong Cemetry in Gaborone.

She was the first female Cabinet member in 1974. She was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry from 1977 to 1984, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1984 to1994, as well as that of Education from 1994 to 1999. She was elected Serowe West MP in a bye election in 1977.

Dr Chiepe, a Botswana Democratic Party stalwart, also worked as 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.

She was awarded both the Presidential Order of Merit and the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service following her illustrious service to the nation.

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 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