The average life expectancy of an ordinary Motswana is Seventy (70) years according to reports. Dr. Gaositwe Chiepe, commonly praised as “the woman of many firsts” is continuing to defy the odds even after retirement by living far beyond the average life expectancy of an ordinary Motswana.
Born in Botswana on 20 October 1922, Dr. Chiepe today turned Ninety-nine (99) years of age. Celebrating the life of this icon, Former President His Excellency Lt Gen Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama today paid Dr. Chiepe a visit to wish her prosperous birthday. Accompanied among others by his brother, Tshekedi Khama, and Ruth Maphorisa, Khama presented some gifts to Chiepe, among them a birthday cake.
“Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, a woman of many firsts. A woman with strength and character so formidable. She has opened the door for women to be able to dream and achieve, such an inspirational leader. I wish you nothing but health and prosperity on your birthday today. Happy birthday Mma Chiepe.” said Former President Khama.
A woman of many firsts, Chiepe was the first female cabinet member in Botswana (1974) having become a Specially-Elected Member of Parliament. She was popularly elected to parliament from the Serowe South constituency in the Central District of Botswana in a by-election in 1977.
She was appointed to the post of high commissioner to United Kingdom and Nigeria and ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the European Economic Community from 1970 to 1974. During her time as High Commissioner in the UK, she chaired the fifth Caroline Haslett Memorial Lecture at the Royal Society of Arts. Run by the Women’s Engineering Society, Dr Letitia Obeng, then Director of Freshwater Research Institute of Aquatic Biology in Ghana spoke on ‘Nation Building & the African Woman’.
From 1974 to 1977, Chiepe was the minister of Trade and Industry. From 1977 to 1984, she was the minister of Mines & Natural Resources. In 1982 Chiepe served as Honorary President of the Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS). In 1984, Chiepe became the Foreign Minister (Minister of External Affairs), in which position she remained until 1994. From 1994 to 1999, she was the Minister of Education. Chiepe was the first woman education officer of Botswana.
Chiepe attended primary school in Serowe and eventually went to Tiger Kloof Educational Institute, South Africa for secondary education, having received a scholarship as the best student in the country. She then attended Fort Hare University, also in South Africa, where she received a Bachelor of Science as well as a postgraduate Diploma in education. In 1958, she graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK with a master’s degree.
She has received honorary doctorates from University of Bristol in Britain, De Paul University in United States and Fort Hare in South Africa. In 2009 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Botswana for her outstanding work in the development of the country.
Chiepe has been awarded both the Presidential Order of Merit and the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service (Botswana), and been made a Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by the King of Sweden and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Chiepe retired from government life in 1999 after nearly 30 years of high level positions.
