18 Feb 2018

The Maun community is reeling in shock following the death of veteran politician, Mr Gaerolwe Kwerepe who died on February 16 at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital.

The late Mr Kwerepe was born in 1928 in Maun. His son, Mr Thato Kwerepe, who is Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, confirmed his father’s death, noting that he suffered from sugar diabetes for a long time.

He said his father, who was a business man, was admitted at the hospital on February  15 as his condition was not satisfactory. He died on Friday morning. He said they were still to engage other family members to map the way forward on funeral arrangements.

Mr Kwerepe joined politics in 1965 and served under the Botswana Democratic Party for more than 20 years. He retired from active politics in 1994. He was elected the first Member of Parliament for Ngami in 1965.

He was part of the first batch of 31 elected MPs who made up Botswana’s first national assembly post independence.

Some residents of Maun have expressed shock about his death. They described him as an icon in Maun community and that he was knowledgeable in terms of history.

They said he had a sharp memory as he could vividly narrate all the events that took place during the independence era.

They also said he was one of the elders in Maun, and that he played a key role in the development of the Ngamiland District during his political tenure. Ends