14 Jan 2026

The first Botswana beauty queen, Ms Serwalo Gaseitsiwe who passed away recently after a long illness, has been described as a bold person who promoted unity.

Gaseitsiwe, who died at the age of 83, was laid to rest at Mmalekwa Cemetery on Tuesday in Kanye. Various speakers shared their memories of her, personality traits and achievements to honour her.

As a member of the royal family in GaNgwaketse, Gaseitsiwe was described as a woman of great strength and authority. She was a Princess of Kgosi Mookami Gaseitsiwe, the younger brother of Kgosi Bathoeng Gaseitsiwe II.

Kgosi Gaofenngwe Bome said Gaseitsiwe was a princess who highly respected chieftainship and promoted unity. 

‘’She was a firm person who believed in confronting issues to iron them out and would even reprimand Chiefs for taking wrong decisions,’’ he stated further.

Mr Leero Gaseitsiwe, the deceased’s second-born son, described mother as an outspoken person who preferred to handle issues in a transparent and unbiased manner.

 He said she was not even scared of approaching Kgosi Seepapitso IV, who was feared by many during his reign.

Whilst Kwenantle Gaseitsiwe, her third-born son, said her mother worked at various parastatals, including the Botswana Housing Corporation and retired at Ove-rap and Partners, which was an architectural company where she worked as an Executive secretary.

Gaseitsiwe had rich knowledge of the Setswana culture and loved her relatives, including those in Molepolole and Serowe.

He said Ms Gasietsiwe was a true princess whose line of friends included Tawana Moremi’s mother, Mohumagadi Debby Moremi and Mohumagadi Semane from Phokeng, South Africa.

One of the elders in the ward, Dr Taolo Moshaga, described Ms Gaseitsiwe as a bold, intelligent lady who was passionate about life. According to Dr Moshaga, Ms Gaseitsiwe was a fearless straight talker who was loving and caring.

‘‘She was a master of critical thinking who argued her cases, supporting them with facts,” he said.

 Gaseitsiwe’s talents were recognised at an early age and nurtured within the family. Her grandfather, Kgosi Bathoeng Gaseitsiwe II, played a significant role in shaping her confidence and love for performance.

She subsequently founded a youth choir known as Tiny Tots, which comprised her aunts and Kgosi Bathoeng II, affectionately referred to as B2 played the piano.

Early experiences cultivated her poise, discipline and appreciation for the arts, laying a strong foundation for her public life.She was crowned the First Miss Botswana beauty queen in 1962, a title she carried with grace, dignity and humility throughout her life. BOPA