16 May 2026

"He won't be forgotten. Whatever he was, he was not common." Citing Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella "Heart of Darkness," those words were central to President Advocate Duma Boko's eulogy presented in honour of former President Dr Festus Mogae at the State Funeral on Saturday.

Before a captive University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena audience and a nation listening attentively on national radio, television and online platforms including that of the Daily News, President Boko said the third President of the Republic was an exceptional person who rose above the ordinary.

President Boko described Dr Mogae as an erudite and opinionated statesman who relished debate and respected free speech.  Leading as a true democrat, Dr Mogae was neither dismissive nor authoriitarian, but allowed a climate where national discourse could accomodate differing views, recognising that democracy requires opposing opinion, not comformity, President Boko said.

In an eulogy full of poetic phraseology, President Boko noted that the country's founding Vice President and Minister of Finance and Development Planning, the second President of the Republic, Sir Ketumile Masire was "drawn" to Dr Mogae.

 Noticing Dr Mogae's unique character, ability and administrative nous, President Masire appointed Dr Mogae to various posts at the Ministry of Finance, as Governor of the Bank of Botswana, Permanent Secretary to the President, Minister of Finance, then as the Vice President until he ultimately made way for his protoge at the Office of the President.

 President Masire had realised that Dr Mogae possesed exceptional qualities, and whenever deployed to any public office, he would serve with honour, President Boko said

While he rests, as his mortal remains are interred at the Phomolong Memorial Park, his soul proceeds to the hearafter with his legacy living on. ENDS