The late Morake played for Tafic, GU.

One of the nation’s founding fathers and former minister Kebatlamang Morake died early yesterday morning at the age of 86, and a family spokesperson has confirmed he will be buried this Saturday in Tonota. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) veteran who reportedly died around 4am Tuesday morning, was the ruling party’s first ever Executive Secretary, having been recruited and appointed to the post in 1965 by former president Sir Seretse Khama and his second in command, Sir Ketumile Masire.

Having joined the party while still a teacher in 1962, Morake went on to become a Specially Elected MP and an assistant minister in the Office of the President. He has also served as both assistant and minister of local government and lands, before being appointed education minister, a ministry he headed for 15 years to become the longest serving Minister of Education in Botswana. Between 1989 and 1994, he served as minister of Health and of Agriculture. A football star in his days, he is known to have played for Tafic and Gaborone United among other football clubs. His pet name in football was ‘Baby Shoes.’ May his soul rest in peace