Profile of Ambassador Legwaila (1937-2025)
Jeff Ramsay | Friday November 7, 2025 11:57
The latter phrase appears in a tribute published by UB last year when the University honoured the statesman with an honorary Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa (DLitt). The honorary Doctorate was conferred in recognition of Ambassador Legwaila's 'exceptional contributions to the public service, diplomacy, and conflict resolution across Africa and globally.' Legwaila was born in Bobirwa on February 2, 1937. He received his primary education in Bobirwa and South Africa before founding and teaching at a primary school in Semolale.
He later pursued studies at the Serowe Teacher Training College before obtaining a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Calgary in Canada. Subsequently, he earned an MA in Political Science from the University of Alberta in Canada.
In 1973, he began working in the Office of the President as Assistant External Affairs Officer before becoming, in 1974, the first Senior Private Secretary to the President, Sir Seretse Khama.
At the end of 1980, he was posted to New York as Botswana’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), a position he would hold until 2002, while also serving as Botswana's non-resident representative to Cuba, Guyana, and Jamaica.
During his extended tenure as UN Ambassador, he undertook significant roles that left a lasting impact. He served as Vice-President of the UN General Assembly on three occasions (1981, 1987, and 1991). In 1995-1996, he occupied Botswana's temporary seat on the UN Security Council, serving as Council President twice.
However, he is best known internationally for his work as the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative in Namibia, where he was tasked with setting up the UN Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG) to oversee the country’s transition to independence from 1989 to 1990.
The group was led by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, with Legwaila as his Deputy.
This was in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 435 of 1978, which had been sponsored by Legwaila’s predecessor as Botswana's UN Ambassador, the late Professor Thomas Tlou.
Additional special assignments given to Ambassador Legwaila during his tenure as UN Ambassador included serving as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for South Africa and as the Special Envoy of the Chairman of the Frontline States to Lesotho.
From February 2000, Legwaila served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), where he facilitated a cessation of the then ongoing hostilities between the two countries.
In May 2006, he was appointed as the Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Africa.
After returning to Botswana, he served as the founding Chairperson of the Board of the Botswana Radiation Protection Agency and, in 2012, led a task force on corporate governance at the Botswana Meat Commission. His expertise was also sought during critical moments when he was appointed Botswana’s team leader for Mozambique’s SADC Election Observer Mission in 2019 and served as a Special Advisor to former President Festus Mogae during the South Sudan peace process from 2015 to 2018.
In 2019, he was a member of a group of BDP elders who attempted, but unsuccessfully, to bring about reconciliation between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former President Ian Khama.
Last year, he accompanied President Masisi in attending the Memorial Service and State Funeral of Namibian President Dr. Hage G. Geingob.
In 1992, Ambassador Legwaila was awarded the Presidential Order of Honour by then-President Masire. He is survived by his wife, Pholile Erica Legwaila (who also served with distinction as a diplomat at the UN), with whom he has been married for over five decades, and by his three children.
May His Soul Rest in Peace, and may his family be comforted in their grief.