- Gaositwe K.T. Chiepe
Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe (born 1926) is a former
Botswana politician and diplomat with theBotswana Democratic Party .Education and early life
Chiepe was born in what was then the
Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1926. She attended primary school inSerowe and eventually went toTigerkloof ,South Africa for secondary education. She then attended Fort Hare University, also inSouth Africa , where she received a Bachelors of Science as well as a degree in education. In 1958, she graduated from theUniversity of Bristol in theUK with a masters degree. She was awarded an honorary degree fromDepaul University ,US . Chiepe worked extensively in the education department after Botswana's independence.Political career
Chiepe was the first female cabinet member in Botswana (1974). She was elected to parliament from the Serowe South, Central District of Botswana. She was appointed to the post of
high commissioner toUnited Kingdom andNigeria and ambassador toWest Germany ,France ,Denmark ,Norway ,Sweden and theEuropean Economic Community from 1970 to 1974. From 1974 to 1977, Chiepe was the minister of Trade and Industry. From 1977 to 1984, she was the minister of Mines & Natural Resources. In 1984, Chiepe became theForeign Minister (minister of external relations), in which position she remained until 1994. From 1994 to 1999, she was the minister of education. Chiepe retired from government life in 1999 after nearly 30 years of high level positions.ource
* [http://www.bookrags.com/biography/gaositwe-keagakwa-tibe-chiepe/ Biography on Book Rags]
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