Festus Mogae | |
|---|---|
 Mogae in 2009 | |
| 3rd President of Botswana | |
| In office 1 April 1998 – 1 April 2008 | |
| Vice President | Seretse Ian Khama |
| Preceded by | Quett Masire |
| Succeeded by | Seretse Ian Khama |
| 4thVice-President of Botswana | |
| In office 1991–1998 | |
| President | Sir Ketumile Masire |
| Preceded by | Peter Mmusi |
| Succeeded by | Seretse Ian Khama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-08-21)21 August 1939 (age 85) Serowe,Bechuanaland |
| Nationality | Botswana |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford University of Sussex |
| Profession | Economist |
Festus Gontebanye Mogae (born 21 August 1939) is a Motswana politician and economist who served as the thirdPresident of Botswana from 1998 to 2008.[1] He succeededQuett Masire as President in 1998[2] and was re-elected in October 2004. After ten years in office, he stepped down in 2008 and was succeeded by Lieutenant GeneralSeretse Khama Ian Khama.[3]
Mogae studied economics in the United Kingdom, first atUniversity College, Oxford, and then at theUniversity of Sussex.[4][1][3] He returned to Botswana to work as a civil servant before taking up posts with theInternational Monetary Fund and theBank of Botswana. He later then served as the governor ofBank of Botswana from 1980 to 1981.[5] He served as theMinister of Finance from 1989 to 1998.[6] He wasVice-President of Botswana from 1991 to 1998.[3]
Mogae's party, theBotswana Democratic Party (BDP), retained power in theOctober 1999 general election, and Mogae was sworn in for a five-year term on 20 October 1999[7][8] by Chief Justice Julian Nganunu at the National Stadium inGaborone.[8] On this occasion, he vowed to focus on the fight against poverty and unemployment.[7]
Following the BDP's victory in theOctober 2004 general election, Mogae was sworn in for another term on 2 November 2004.[9] Mogae promised to tackle poverty and unemployment, as well as the spread ofHIV-AIDS, which he pledged to stop in Botswana by 2016.[10]
On 14 July 2007, Mogae affirmed his intention to resign nine months later.[11] He stepped down as President on 1 April 2008 and was succeeded by Vice-President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama.[3] He would have been required to leave office in 2008 in any event; a constitutional amendment passed in 1997 limited the president to a total of 10 years in office, whether successive or separated.
Mogae currently serves as Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change.[12] In 2010, he joined the advisory board of US nonprofitTeachAids.[13] He also currently serves as chairman of theChoppies supermarket group where he earned Pula 529,000 in 2011.[14]
In 2013, along with former PresidentBenjamin Mkapa ofTanzania, Mogae co-chaired a sustainable development symposium, hosted by the UONGOZI Institute in collaboration withClub de Madrid,[15][16] organisation of which Mkapa was also a member.
Festus Mogae marriedBarbara Mogae in 1967.[17] They have three daughters, born between 1969 and 1987: Nametso, Chedza and Boikaego.[17][18]
Mogae was awarded the Grand Cross of theLégion d'honneur by French PresidentNicolas Sarkozy on 20 March 2008 for his "exemplary leadership" in making Botswana a "model" of democracy andgood governance.[19]
Mogae won the 2008Ibrahim 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 NationsSecretary-GeneralKofi 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."[21][22]
In addition, he has received a number of honours such as the Naledi Ya Botswana order in 2003 and also[1] received the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement in 2005.[23][24][25]
A Trustee of theRhodes Trust since 2010,[26] and in 2016, Mogae was appointed a Foreign Honorary Member of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences.[27]
His Excellency Festus Mogae, President of Botswana and 2005 honoree, speaking at United Nations symposium.
Golden Plate Awards Council member President Festus G. Mogae of Botswana greets President William J. Clinton.
Media related toFestus Mogae at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Vice-President of Botswana 1991–1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of Botswana 1998–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by | Prize for Achievement in African Leadership 2008 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
