Former Botswana President Festus Mogae dies aged 86

BOTSWANA: Botswana’s former head of state Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86, President Duma Boko has announced.

“Today Botswana mourns a distinguished statesman and patriot whose life was devoted to the service of his country,” Boko announced, adding that Mogae died early on Friday.

The former president, who led Botswana from 1998 to 2008, had been in ill health for some time.

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In a statement last month, the government said he was receiving medical care at a hospital in the capital, Gaborone, without disclosing the nature of his illness.

Mogae, the country’s thrid president, is widely credited with strengthening Botswana’s economic management and governance systems during a period of rapid growth driven by diamond revenues.

In his address to the nation on Friday, Boko hailed Mogae as a leader who “stood firmly for discipline, good governance, economic prudence and the advancement of our nation”.