26 Oct 2022

 A special cabinet meeting is to be convened today to discuss the honouring of one of Botswana’s founding figures, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, who turned 100 last week.

“There is a special cabinet meeting on Thursday, and on the agenda is your name and what we choose to do to recognise you,” President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi told the national icon in Gaborone Tuesday during a state dinner in her honour.

The President said given the immense contribution Dr Chiepe had made to Botswana, it was only fitting that she be recognised at state level.

“How fortunate that today we can still behold this genteel spirit in operation; still breaking records; still good at it; still Dr Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe. The icon we celebrate,” he said.

President Masisi said Dr Chiepe was at the forefront of nation building from independence and had played various roles in politics and public administration that helped shape modern Botswana.

Dr Chiepe also contributed to the liberation of neighbouring states, he said.

“She occupied front row seats during the era of colonial administration; an educator during the coalface of our independence and nation building; a quintessential diplomat when Southern Africa faced a torrid time of expansionist tendencies of racist policies by the minority regime of apartheid South Africa; and an unapologetic politician who refused the easy way, but chose the “rough and tumble” that she believes all women politicians should subscribe to,” Dr Masisi said.

President talked about Dr Chiepe’s enduring fashion sense noting that during a recent visit to her house, she wore a yellow (associated with a particular opposition party) outfit yet still displaying her lifelong commitment to the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to communicate a nation building message.

“I believe you have all seen the pictures in the DailyNews and other media. A yellow floral dress suit complete with quarter sleeve jacket of unmistakable yellow, accessorised with a huge matching yellow brooch and jewellery!  The might and power of your fist pump shot up in defiance of the colour scheme you chose for that day. What a refresher it was!” the President said.

He said a subsequent BDP visit led by veteran, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe found ‘the colour scheme had changed to a more pronounced red themed jacket’.

President Masisi thanked Dr Chiepe for reminding politicians that as they changed formations, ‘we too should unite our colours more elegantly towards a more perfect republic.’

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape extolled Dr Chiepe’s virtues as the first woman to head a diplomatic mission abroad when she was high commissioner to the United Kingdom 1970-74 also accredited to the then European Economic Community (forerunner to the European Union). 

Dr Kwape also praised her for helping to forge the country’s foreign policy when she was Minister of External Affairs in 1984-1994.

Permanent secretary, government communications, Mr John-Thomas Dipowe and former civil servant and prominent businessman, Mr Charles Tibone shared memories of working with Dr Chiepe in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, describing her as a fair but firm leader, a perfectionist who paid attention to detail.

Family representative, Ms Kelebogile Lecoge said Dr Chiepe and her family had been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and well wishes from government and members of the public on the occasion of Dr Chiepe’s centenary. Ends