Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe

Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe (20 October 1922 – 26 January 2025) was a Motswana politician and diplomat with the Botswana Democratic Party. She was her country's high commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria and ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the European Economic Community.

Early life Chiepe was born in what was the Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) on 20 October 1922, to Moruti Tibe Chiepe and S. T. Chiepe (née Sebina). Her father died in her youth and her extended family wanted her to leave school and get married, Her mother insisted that she stay on at school to continue her education. Her doctoral 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. She was popularly elected to parliament from the Serowe South constituency in the Central District of Botswana in a by-election in 1977. During her time as High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, she chaired the fifth Caroline Haslett Memorial Lecture at the Royal Society of Arts.

From 1974 to 1977, Chiepe was the Minister of Trade and Industry. From 1977 to 1984, she was the Minister of Mines & Natural Resources.

From 1994 to 1999, she was the Minister of Education.

Later life and death In October 2022, Chiepe turned 100. In response, the Cabinet of Botswana convened a meeting to honour Chiepe for her lifetime of service to the country.

Chiepe died in her residence on 26 January 2025, at the age of 102.

Recognition Chiepe was awarded both the Presidential Order of Merit and the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service (Botswana),

She received honorary doctorates from University of Bristol in Britain, De Paul University in the United States and Fort Hare in South Africa. In 2009 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Botswana for her outstanding work in the development of the country.

Publications Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Bristol, 1957. An Investigation of the Problems of Popular Education in the Bechuanaland Protectorate: In the 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. Chiepe, G. K. T. (1973). "Development in Botswana". African Affairs. 72. 319–322. . Rensburg, Patrick & Chiepe, G. (April 1996). "The Botswana Brigades, 1965–1995". Education with Production 11(2): 81–90.