Festus Mogae - a great state servant

President Festus Gontebanye Mogae has left us, and with him goes a presence that deeply marked my life. He leaves after a long existence, rich in teachings, wisdom and values that he was able to impose without ever trying to impose them.

He was a great servant of the state, in the noblest sense of the word. He embodied integrity, patriotism and the demand for a job well done. He belonged to that generation for which serving the nation was neither a privilege nor a slogan, but a sacred duty, lived with rigor and honor. He leaves behind an exceptional path and, above all, an intact reputation, which is arguably rare and precious. Yes, the legacy of service above self. Needless to state that, apart from the Statesman that many have so eloquently and abundantly eulogised, this is the Mogae person I am crying out for today... that perhaps he could inspire more leaders to be like him, if not better.

A man with a heart, affectionate, attentive, always ready to listen and advise. Beginning my journey of the rare privilege of working beside this giant of a man ... he made it clear to me, “Rhee, never in my life have I learned anything from an advisor who always agreed with me.” His words, always measured, never pressing, helped me to choose, to hold, and stay true to myself. His confidence honored me; his kindness carried me. He was a mentor of note... a father, indeed. President Mogae was a living memory of our country.

At his side, I learned to understand the history of Batalaote and Bangwato - a lived experience, the hardships they overcame, the hopes sometimes disappointed but never abandoned. Demanding and clear patriot, he loved his country deeply and spoke of it proudly every place of the globe we visited, but also truthfully. He spoke truth to power, but never in disdain. One thing I regret — though I fully understood his reasoning — is that he never agreed to commit to paper his reflections and experiences of Botswana during his time. Whenever I raised the matter, he would always offer a thoughtful and understandable explanation for his position. Yet not all was lost. With time, he gradually became more open to the importance of preserving aspects of his precious legacy. Our conversations increasingly turned toward that purpose, and the work, thankfully, remains in progress. The void left by President Festus Mogae’s departure is immense.

Farewell Mr. President. C’ est la vie! Such is life... that I now find myself assuming the very reference we had long associated with you, Sir — to be described as the “Former” Senior Advisor to President Festus Mogae. Indeed, such is life. May the Almighty Father, in His infinite mercy, receive your noble and generous soul into His eternal paradise.

Rhee Hetanang, Senior Private Secretary to former President Festus Mogae