Walking with president Mogae: Memories of a statesman who carried power lightly
Thomas Nkhoma | Friday May 15, 2026 10:26
I consider myself fortunate to have been among the journalists assigned to the presidential beat in the late 1990s and, perhaps more significantly, among the youngest reporters entrusted with covering a man who would come to define an era of disciplined, principled, and quietly effective leadership in Botswana. At the time, I was still a young reporter learning the rhythms of the profession. Yet the presidential beat offered an extraordinary vantage point from which to observe not only the workings of government but also the character of the man at the centre of it all. One of my most memorable encounters with Dr Mogae came on the eve of his ascension to the presidency.
Botswana stood at an important juncture as President Sir Ketumile Masire prepared to hand over the reins of power to a man widely respected for his intellect, fiscal discipline and understated demeanour. In that interview, Dr Mogae spoke with the calm precision that would later become his trademark. There was no bombast or no lofty rhetoric. Instead, he outlined a thoughtful vision for Botswana’s future and the challenges that lay ahead. One remark from that conversation has remained etched in my mind over the years. He expressed his hope that Botswana would one day elect a woman as President. At the time, it struck me as a remarkably progressive aspiration. Looking back, it revealed a great deal about the man. Even before assuming office, he was thinking beyond his own tenure and imagining a more inclusive Botswana. Years later, I had the privilege of sitting down with him again, this time for an exclusive interview to mark his 65th birthday. The conversation was more reflective and personal. We spoke not only about his life and public service but also about his hopes for Botswana’s future. Despite occupying the highest office in the land, Dr Mogae remained strikingly modest.
He spoke with the measured clarity of an economist, but also with the humility of a man who viewed leadership not as a platform for self-importance, but as a solemn responsibility. Covering Dr Mogae also afforded me opportunities to travel with him both locally and abroad. I accompanied him to numerous regional and international engagements, including Southern African Development Community (SADC) summits, African Union (AU) meetings and the World Economic Forum. Yet it was in the global fight against HIV/AIDS that his leadership shone most brightly. At a time when stigma and denial still clouded the epidemic, Dr Mogae spoke with moral clarity and conviction. He championed Botswana’s interests relentlessly, helping position the country as a global leader in confronting one of the greatest public health crises of our time. Watching him engage world leaders, policymakers and health experts, one gained a deeper appreciation of his ability to combine intellectual rigour with profound compassion. Still, for all the gravity of summit diplomacy and international advocacy, one of my most enduring memories of Dr Mogae remains a simple and unscripted moment.
One lazy Sunday afternoon, I happened to see him walking from the State House through the Old Mall towards the Office of the President. There was no dramatic motorcade, no conspicuous ring of security officers - just the President of Botswana taking a stroll through the heart of the capital. As a journalist, I immediately recognised the symbolism of the scene and wrote a story about the encounter. To me, it captured something essential about Botswana: a peaceful and stable country where a Head of State could walk among ordinary citizens with little fanfare. It also revealed something profound about Dr Mogae himself. He was, in many ways, an enigma - reserved, cerebral and uncomfortable with the trappings of office. He never appeared particularly fond of being surrounded by an imposing security detail. Power, it seemed, was something he carried lightly. I also had the opportunity to travel aboard the presidential aircraft, OK1, on domestic assignments, including a trip to Mosetse, where Dr Mogae went to mediate a chieftainship dispute. Even in such settings, his leadership style was unmistakable. He listened carefully, weighed competing views and approached complex issues with a pragmatic commitment to finding common ground.
To many Batswana, Dr Mogae will rightly be remembered as the economist-president who safeguarded Botswana’s finances, strengthened its institutions and confronted HIV/AIDS with uncommon courage. To me, he will also be remembered as the thoughtful leader who hoped to see a woman become President, the statesman who represented Botswana with quiet confidence on the world stage and the unassuming man I once encountered walking alone through the Old Mall on a Sunday afternoon. In that simple scene lay a powerful lesson. True leadership does not need to announce itself loudly. Sometimes, it walks quietly among the people.