Botswana's former president Festus Mogae dies at 86
He was not on the list.
GABORONE, May 8 (Reuters) - Botswana's former president Festus Mogae, who led the diamond-rich nation for a decade and won praise for good governance and the fight against HIV/AIDS, has died at the age of 86, the government said, declaring three days of national mourning.
Mogae served as Botswana's third president from 1998 to
2008, handing power to his vice president, Ian Khama in a smooth transition
that highlighted the southern African nation's reputation for political
stability.
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An economist by training, Mogae was credited with
successful management of Botswana's economy. He tackled HIV/AIDS openly at a time
when Botswana faced one of the world's highest infection rates, and adopted
one of the African continent's most comprehensive programmes against it.
Born in Serowe on August 21, 1939, Mogae studied in
Britain before joining Botswana's civil service shortly after independence in
1966. He served as finance minister and vice president before becoming
president.
Mogae stepped down after the maximum of two terms allowed
by the constitution.
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