About Gaositwe Chiepe Truest
The Gaositwe Chiepe Trust was founded by Dr Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chipe with the object of benefiting any organisation that the Trust may, from time to time, choose that supports children with Learning Disabilities in Botswana. The Trust (Registration Number: 0006/2019) was founded in 2019.
Dr G. T. Chiepe: A Woman of Firsts
Dr Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe was born on 20th October 1922 in Serowe, Botswana to Tibe and Sefalana Chiepe (nee Sebina). Dr Chiepe attended primary school in Serowe and then proceeded to do her secondary schooling in Tigerkloof Educational Institute, South Africa, having received a scholarship as the best student in Botswana.
When Dr Chiepe’s father died in her youth, her extended family wanted her to leave school and get married. Her mother insisted she stayed in school to continue her education and Dr Chiepe has later attributed her successful career to her mother’s insistence that she be educated.
In 1947, Dr Chiepe completed her Bachelor of Science Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. She later went to do her Master’s Degree at the University of Bristol, England, in 1959, where the title of her thesis was ‘An Investigation of the Problems of Popular Education in the Bechuanaland Protectorate in the Light of Comparative Study of Similar Problems in the Early Stages of English Education and in the Development of Education in Yugoslavia and Uganda’.
Dr. Chiepe was instrumental in the formulation of the Botswana education system and is known to many as the woman who fought for free education in Botswana.
She was an assistant teacher and the first woman Education Officer in Botswana from 1948 to 1953; Education Officer (with administration and inspectorate duties) from 1953 to 1962; Senior Education Officer 1962 to 1965; Deputy Director of Education from 1965 to 1967; and Director of Education from 1968 to 1970.
Between 1970 and 1974, Dr Chiepe served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and Ambassador to West Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the European Economic Community from.
In 1974, Dr Chiepe was selected by President Seretse Khama as a specially elected Member of Parliament and became the first woman to be appointed a cabinet Minister. She went on to be popularly elected to Parliament in 1977 when she was elected to represent the Serowe South constituency.
Dr Chiepe was the Minister of Trade and Industry from 1974 to 1977, Minister of Mines & Natural Resources from 1977 to 1984. During her tenure in both Ministries, she played a key role during the crucial Debswana negotiations which saw the Botswana Government become a major player in the global diamond industry.
From 1984 to 1994 Dr Chiepe served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, before completing her impactful and illustrious career in public service as Minister of Education from 1994 to her retirement in 1999.
Dr Chiepe has a deep passion for equitable access to quality education, particularly for children with learning difficulties or disabilities. She founded the Gaositwe Chiepe Trust with the object of benefiting organisations and initiatives that support children with Learning Disabilities.
Awards
Honorary doctorate degrees from
University of Bristol, England
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Depaul University, United States
University of Botswana, Botswana
Presidential Order of Honour, Botswana
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), England
Golden Jubilee Medal, England
Commander, Royal Order of Polar Star, King of Sweden
Grand Cordon, Order of the Rising Sun, Japan
Chief Councilor of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, Eswatini
Our Trustees
- Gaositwe Chiepe
- Sefalana Modisi
- Taolo Modisi
- Mogamisi Nkate
- Lorato Legwaila-Molefhe
- Onkutule Makgatlhe
- Lebogang Mothibatsela
