04 Mar 2021

As the nation prepares to bid farewell to former cabinet minister Mr Archibald Mogwe who passed away last week aged 99, two prominent Bangwaketse tribesmen have paid glowing tribute to him as a distinguished politician, strategist and administrator.

Born on 21 August 1921 in Kanye, Mr Mogwe worked as a teacher before he was appointed as the first Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) after Botswana attained independence. 

He later became a politician and went on to serve as minister of Foreign Affairs from 1974 to 1984, and Mineral Resources and Water Affairs from 1985 to 1994.

He was Member of Parliament for Kanye constituency from 1989 to 1994. 

He also served as Specially Elected MP on three terms between 1974 and 1989. 

He winded his distinguished career as ambassador of Botswana to the United States of America.

An elder from Kanye and founding member of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Mr Ketumile Kaboeamodimo, said in an interview that Mr Mogwe contributed a lot in the shaping of direction of governance after independence.

“He was a calm and intelligent strategist. He provided sound advice to the leadership of this country when he was PSP and was also special advisor to the Botswana Democratic Party. He was the one who advised the party to promote democracy, unity and self-reliance in its first manifesto,” Mr Kaboeamodimo says. 

Mr Kaboeamodimo said he worked closely with Mr Mogwe in the 1970s and 80s after he (Mogwe) left the civil service to become a politician. Mr Kaboeamodimo was a councillor in Kanye at the time.

He said as a cabinet minister, Mr Mogwe was easily accessible and took time to listen to people. He said Mr Mogwe wanted good coordination of services provided by government. 

“He proposed for land board chairmen to become ex-officio members of councils and council secretaries to be ex-officio members of land boards. He felt that councils needed to know what was happening in land boards for better coordination of services. He was also the person who advocated for integration of government offices in one place in villages so that people could not travel all over the village when they wanted services,” Mr Kaboeamodimo explained. 

He said Mr Mogwe was also one of the leaders who advocated for construction of the University of Botswana and the formation of Botswana Defence Force.

Also, Mr Kaboeamodimo credited Mr Mogwe for proposing for the vice president to automatically succeed the president whenever a sitting president passes away. That was after the death of the first President Sir Seretse Khama in 1980. Mr Kaboeamodimo further credits Mr Mogwe for playing a critical role in bringing some developments to Kanye. “He was at the forefront of construction of Mookane and Ngwaketse Junior Secondary Schools. He also advocated for construction of more stand pipes in the village. Before that there was only one stand pipe at Kgosing ward. But he wanted people to have ease of access to water. Other stand pipes were constructed at Mmasekou, Segopotso and near the police station.”

He also said it was Mr Mogwe who advocated for Mmakgodumo dam to be turned into a tourism attraction.

“He was a peaceful person who advocated for tolerance of opposition politicians at the time when (the late) Dr Kenneth Koma and Phillip Matante were too critical of government, which sometimes made the ruling party uneasy. He was also a laid back, jolly person who loved entertainment. He used to play his piano, and also loved football,” said Mr Kaboeamodimo.

Mr Kaboeamodimo said he would remember Mr Mogwe as a sober minded person, who was not arrogant even though he was educated and more knowledgeable than many people.

Mr Motswakgakala Sealetsa, who originates from Goo-Motebejana ward like Mr Mogwe, says the late former cabinet minister should be treated as a national hero.

Mr Sealetsa said Mr Mogwe was knowledgeable about many things and used to encourage people to understand systems and policies of government.

“He guided many of us. I would say he developed me into what I am today because I learned many things from him. I worked under him as a councilor when he was MP of Kanye from 1989 to 1994 and he was pleasant to work with,” said Mr Sealetsa. 

He said Mr Mogwe selflessly served the whole nation of Botswana as a politician and civil servant. 

Mr Sealetsa advised the current generation of leaders and Batswana in general to honour the legacy of Mr Mogwe by copying his selflessness, truthfulness, dedication to hard work and cooperation.

“I want the current generation to learn these good characteristics from Mogwe. We should also ask ourselves as Batswana how we are going to honour Mr Mogwe because he dedicated his life to serving us wholeheartedly,” he said.

One of the ways of honouring Mr Mogwe, he said was by naming, not just one, but a number of institutions after him. Ends