By Jones Gadama

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and First Lady Professor Gertrude Mutharika have conveyed their condolences following the passing of Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae.

In a statement released by the Office of the President and Cabinet, the couple said they will remember Mogae for his role in driving Botswana’s economic progress and for his service to the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

The statement highlighted Mogae’s dedication to strengthening regional integration and promoting stability across Southern Africa during and after his tenure.

The First Couple extended sympathies to Botswana’s President Duma Boko, former First Lady Barbara Gemma Mogae, the bereaved family, and the people of Botswana, describing the late leader as a national icon and a founding figure in the country’s post-independence history.

Mogae, who led Botswana from 1998 to 2008, is widely credited with advancing good governance and economic diversification in the diamond-rich nation.