Gaborone, Botswana — Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae, who made the fight against HIV and AIDS a national priority during his tenure from 1998 to 2008, has died at the age of 86, the government said on Friday. No cause of death was given.
botswana President Duma Boko Said that under Moge’s leadership the country earned international respect for its principled, sound economic management and commitment to democracy. He said the country would observe three days of national mourning in honor of its former head of state.
Botswana is a sparsely populated and arid country in southern Africa Largest producer of diamonds by value And second largest after Russia in terms of volume. According to the International Monetary Fund, diamonds account for about 80% of Botswana’s exports and a quarter of its gross domestic product.
Mogae is credited with leading the fight against HIV/AIDS in Botswana, which he made a national priority and introduced free access to antiretroviral drugs at public health facilities in 2002 and expanded it to non-citizens in 2019.
This led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country, which had one of the highest infection rates in the world at the time.
Boko said Moge brought Botswana’s name to the world with dignity and remained a voice of reason, unity and progress throughout his life.
“Today Botswana is mourning a distinguished statesman, a patriot whose life was dedicated to the service of his country,” Boko said in an address to the nation.
Mogae won the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership – one of the most prestigious honors for African governance – recognizing his democratic leadership and peaceful transfer of power.
Botswana has unearthed all of the world’s largest rough diamonds in the past decade, including a 2,492-carat stone discovered last year, which was the second-largest diamond ever dug from a mine and the largest in more than a century.
Moge, an economist by profession, was the governor of the Bank of Botswana before leading the country.
