11 Facts About Mompati Merafhe

Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe was a Motswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2008 to 2012.

Mompati Merafhe was a retired Lieutenant-General and served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2008.

When Botswana formed the Botswana Defense Force in 1977, Mompati Merafhe was selected by President Sir Seretse Khama as its first commander at the rank of Major-General.

Mompati Merafhe was a widely-respected commander of the BDF, working closely with his second-in-command Ian Khama to develop its ability to police the borders, deter poaching of the country's wildlife resources, and to establish an air arm.

Between 1995 and 2002, Mompati Merafhe served as a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Human Rights Network and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.

Mompati Merafhe was first elected to the Central Committee of the Botswana Democratic Party in 1991 and remained on the body until ill-health forced his retirement in 2012.

Mompati Merafhe 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 and 975 for Thomas Ookeditse of the Botswana Congress Party.

Mompati 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.

Mompati Merafhe was not given a ministerial portfolio as Vice-President, although it was suggested that he might be tasked with project implementation across ministries.

Mompati Merafhe retired on 31 July 2012 and Ponatshego Kedikilwe was sworn in to succeed him as Vice-President on 1 August.

Mompati Merafhe died on the morning of 7 January 2015 at the age of 78 after years of health complications.