Mogae, Festus Gontebanye (1939-…), served as president of Botswana from 1998 to 2008. He took office after the resignation of President Quett Ketumile Joni Masire. Mogae was only the third president to take office since Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. He supported Botswana’s policy of political nonalignment and followed an economic development program. Mogae stepped down as president in 2008 and was succeeded by Vice President Ian Khama.
In 1982, Mogae was given the post of permanent secretary to President Masire. In 1989, Masire promoted Mogae to finance minister. Mogae became vice president in 1992. President Masire resigned in April 1998, and Mogae succeeded him. In general elections held in 1999 and 2004, Mogae and his party, the Botswana Democratic Party, won large victories.
Festus Gontebanye Mogae was born on Aug. 21, 1939, at Serowe, in what is now eastern Botswana. He attended Oxford University and the University of Sussex. Mogae became a planning officer with the Botswana Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in 1968. In 1972, he became director of economic affairs at the same ministry. Mogae joined the administration of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an alternate governor for Botswana in 1971. From 1976 to 1980, he served as alternate executive director and then as executive director of the IMF. Mogae was a member of the Joint Development Committee of the World Bank and IMF from 1991 to 1996.
