Botswana announces memorial schedule for Late President Festus Mogae

Africa, Obituaries

GABORONE, Botswana (NPA) — The Government of Botswana has announced a series of memorial activities in honour of the country’s former president, Festus Gontebanye Mogae, who died at the age of 86.

According to a public notice issued by the Republic of Botswana’s Office of the President, the memorial activities will begin on Monday, May 11, with prayer sessions at the Gaborone Boipuso Hall and continue through Saturday, May 16, when the late statesman will be buried in Gaborone.

The schedule released by the government indicated that prayer sessions would hold daily from May 11 to May 14 between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

A condolence register will also be opened at the Gaborone Parliament from Tuesday, May 12, to Friday, May 15, between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The late former president is expected to lie in state at Parliament on Wednesday, May 13, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while a memorial service will take place on Thursday, May 14, at a venue yet to be announced.

According to the schedule, a procession of honour will be held on Friday, May 15, between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., ahead of the burial scheduled for Saturday, May 16.

Earlier, Newpost Africa reported that Mogae’s death was announced by Duma Boko, who also declared three days of national mourning, with flags ordered to fly at half-mast across the country.

Mogae, Botswana’s third president, served from 1998 to 2008 and earned international recognition for his economic leadership during the country’s diamond-driven growth era.

He was also widely praised for spearheading one of Africa’s most ambitious HIV/AIDS treatment programmes, which significantly reduced infection and mortality rates in Botswana.

Beyond his presidency, Mogae remained active in peace mediation and public health advocacy across Africa.

In 2008, he received the prestigious Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in recognition of his democratic leadership and peaceful transfer of power.

His death has been widely described as the loss of a respected African statesman known for his commitment to democracy, good governance and public health reforms.