Former minister Morake dies
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday August 30, 2017 17:28
Yesterday, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Francistown region chairperson Baemedi Medupi confirmed Morake’s death to Mmegi.
“The party has been informed of his death. Apart from confirmation, I do not have further details surrounding his death,” Medupi said yesterday.
Morake, who was a former teacher, has often been credited for helping revolutionise the country’s education system.
Nicknamed ‘Baby Shoe’ because of his tiny stature, Morake is also the first BDP executive secretary.
“He was a very good executive secretary. He was not an office man. He was very articulate and used the simplest of languages during meetings. He was admired because of the manner he articulated issues within the party and government,” former Cabinet minister, Daniel Kwalegabe who is amongst those who worked closely with Morake recalled yesterday.
At press time, there was no readily available comment from members of Morake’s family. Business Botswana president, Lokwalo Mosienyane who was designated to speak on the family’s behalf could not be reached as his phone was unavailable for the better part of yesterday.
Morake joined the BDP in 1962 when he was still a teacher. After the 1969 general elections, he was made a Specially Elected Member of Parliament and an assistant minister in the Office of the President, responsible for Information and Broadcasting.
A major breakthrough in his political career came in 1971 following the appointment of former Mmadinare MP Amos Dambe as the ambassador to the United States of America.
Morake contested and won the Mmadinare by-election. He was appointed the assistant Minister of Local Government. He would later become full minister in the same ministry.
Morake once again won parliamentary elections in 1974 and was appointed education minister and went on to serve in that portfolio for 15 years. He left active politics after losing the 1994 general elections.
(Additional reporting from Mmegi Archives )