Botswana’s President Duma Boko Friday announced the death of his predecessor Festus Mogae at the age of 86.
Mogae who has been terminally ill, led Botswana as its third president between 1998 and 2008.
“Today Botswana mourns a distinguished statesman and patriot whose life was devoted to the service of his country,” Boko said in an address to the nation.
Mogae has been admitted as hospital in the capital Gaborone in recent months.
There was no word about the nature of his illness.
Flags will be flying at half-mast across Botswana for three days.
Mogae’s admnistration was roundly praised both locally and internationally for stabilising Botswana’s economy through pragmatic fiscal policies which saw rapid growth thanks to revenues from its diamonds.
A former vice president and finance minister, Mogae is also praised for causing a dent in his country’s HIV/AIDS rate which was one of the worst globally after a comprehensive antiretroviral treatment programme.
His campaign for free antiretroviral therapy continued following his retirement and won the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, recognising his sterling role in advancing the cause of good governance not only in Botswana but elsewhere across Africa.
Born in 1939, in Serowe, Mogae was trained as an economist at the Oxford and Sussex universities.
WN/as/APA