Mompati Merafhe
Encyclopedia
Lt. Gen. Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe (born 6 June 1936) is a Botswana
politician, currently serving as Vice-President
. He is a retired Lieutenant-General and was Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs
from 1994 to 2008.
. After a career in the army, he retired from it and entered politics in 1989. He was first elected to the Central Committee of the Botswana Democratic Party
(BDP) in 1991 and has remained on the body since then. Merafhe has been the Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West since the 1994 election
. He was elected for a third time in the October 2004 general election
, receiving 5,429 votes against 1,664 for Abigail Mogalakwe of the Botswana National Front
(BNF) and 975 for Thomas Ookeditse of the Botswana Congress Party
(BCP). Besides serving as Foreign Minister, he also served a period as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration.
When Ian Khama
took office as President on 1 April 2008, he appointed Merafhe as Vice-President. Merafhe was approved as Vice-President by Parliament on the same day, receiving 48 out of 56 votes, with no votes against, two spoiled votes, and six abstentions; he was immediately sworn in. The same day, Khama explained to the BDP caucus that he did not intend for Merafhe to ultimately succeed him as President; he envisioned eventually replacing Merafhe with another Vice-President who would in turn succeed Khama in 2018. Merafhe was not given a ministerial portfolio as Vice-President, although it was suggested that he might be tasked with project implementation across ministries.
Merafhe is married and has five children.
Following the second round of the Zimbabwean presidential election
in June 2008, Merafhe said that the election was flawed and that Zimbabwe should be barred from participation in regional talks. On 22 July 2009, he was appointed to the BDP Central Committee by President Khama; he was one of five individuals appointed to that body by Khama.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
politician, currently serving as Vice-President
Vice-President of Botswana
The Vice-President of Botswana is the second-highest executive official in the Government of Botswana.-List of Vice-Presidents of Botswana:-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana...
. He is a retired Lieutenant-General and was Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1994 to 2008.
Biography
Merafhe was born in SeroweSerowe
Serowe was famed as Botswana's largest village after Molepolole. Serowe has a rich history in Botswana'; it being the capital for the Bamangwato people in the early part of the 20th century and for being the birth place of many of Botswana's Presidents...
. After a career in the army, he retired from it and entered politics in 1989. He was first elected to the Central Committee of the Botswana Democratic Party
Botswana Democratic Party
The Botswana Democratic Party is the governing conservative party in Botswana. Its chairman is Daniel Kwelagobe.BDP was shaped by Sir Seretse Khama, who is celebrated for nurturing the economic and political success of Botswana. The party's base is in the traditional Setswana communities, and it...
(BDP) in 1991 and has remained on the body since then. Merafhe has been the Member of Parliament for Mahalapye West since the 1994 election
Botswana general election, 1994
General elections were held in Botswana on 15 October 1994. They were fought between the Botswana Democratic Party and four opposition parties. Forty seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front making huge strides, as its representation...
. He was elected for a third time in the October 2004 general election
Botswana general election, 2004
The Botswana general election of 2004 was contested by the Botswana Democratic Party and eight opposition parties. 57 seats in the Parliament were contested, with the largest opposition party, the Botswana National Front , accusing the Independent Election Commission of fundamental errors in its...
, receiving 5,429 votes against 1,664 for Abigail Mogalakwe of the Botswana National Front
Botswana National Front
The Botswana National Front has been the main opposition party in Botswana since the 1969 elections.It achieved its greatest electoral success in the 1994 elections, when it won 37.1% of the vote and 13 of 40 parliamentary seats. A factional conflict in 1998 led to the departure of 11 of these...
(BNF) and 975 for Thomas Ookeditse of the Botswana Congress Party
Botswana Congress Party
The Botswana Congress Party is a social-democratic political party in Botswana, considered the third largest party in Botswana.The BCP was founded in 1998 in a split from the Botswana National Front, with most of the BNF's sitting Members of Parliament joining the new party after a leadership...
(BCP). Besides serving as Foreign Minister, he also served a period as Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration.
When Ian Khama
Ian Khama
Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama is a Botswana politician who has been the President of Botswana since 2008; he is also the Paramount Chief of the Bamangwato tribe...
took office as President on 1 April 2008, he appointed Merafhe as Vice-President. Merafhe was approved as Vice-President by Parliament on the same day, receiving 48 out of 56 votes, with no votes against, two spoiled votes, and six abstentions; he was immediately sworn in. The same day, Khama explained to the BDP caucus that he did not intend for Merafhe to ultimately succeed him as President; he envisioned eventually replacing Merafhe with another Vice-President who would in turn succeed Khama in 2018. Merafhe was not given a ministerial portfolio as Vice-President, although it was suggested that he might be tasked with project implementation across ministries.
Merafhe is married and has five children.
Following the second round of the Zimbabwean presidential election
Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008
The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on 29 March 2008. The three major candidates were incumbent President Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front , Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change , and...
in June 2008, Merafhe said that the election was flawed and that Zimbabwe should be barred from participation in regional talks. On 22 July 2009, he was appointed to the BDP Central Committee by President Khama; he was one of five individuals appointed to that body by Khama.
External links
- http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/61/pdfs/botswana-e.pdf