One of the last surviving greats of the Republic's founding generation, for over a century Dr Chiepe distinguished herself as an educator, administrator, diplomat, and politician. An accomplished woman of many firsts, she was the first Motswana woman to earn a college degree and, subsequently, a postgraduate degree. She was Botswana’s first Director of Education, one of the first two female MPs (along with Kebatshabile Lorato Disele), and Cabinet Minister. In 1970, she was the only woman from either Africa or the Commonwealth to be the head of a diplomatic mission in London. Born in Serowe on October 20, 1922, from an early age Chiepe distinguished herself as a student. In 1939, she attended Tiger Kloof on a government bursary and became the school’s best student and head prefect. In 1944, she attended Fort Hare College, where, in 1947, she was awarded a Bachelor's degree of Science in Zoology and Botany and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
In 1958, she graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK with a master's degree. Her thesis was entitled 'An Investigation of the Problems of Popular Education in the Bechuanaland Protectorate in Light of a Comparative Study of Similar Problems in the Early Stages of English Education and in the Development of Education in Yugoslavia and Uganda'. From 1948 to 1970, she played an important role in educational administration. She was one of the first two indigenous Africans to be appointed to a senior administrative position in the colonial government. She served as Assistant Education Officer from 1948 to 1953, Education Officer (with administration and inspectorate duties) from 1953 to 1962, Senior Education Officer from 1962 to 1965, Deputy Director of Education from 1965 to 1967, and Director of Education from 1968 to 1970. In the latter position, she was a key player in establishing Botswana's public education system which barely existed before the 1960s. From 1970 to 1974 she served as Botswana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria and ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the European Economic Community (ECC, later EU). In 1974, she became a Specially Elected MP as a member of the Botswana Democratic Party. Beginning with her October 1977 victory in a by-election, she represented the Serowe South constituency for 22 years.
