Stephen Matenga, AfricaNews reporter in Haarlem, The Netherlands Photo: Mogae in his days as president
Mogae becomes the second recipient of the prestigious annual award.
The Mo Ibrahim Award is the biggest individual prize in the world. The inaugural prize went to former Mozambican President Joachim Chisano last year.
The Batwana are reportedly brimming with pride after Mogae is regarded internationally as an exemplary African leader who ensured that the tenet of democracy flourished under his rule, making Botswana a rare political and economic success story on the continent, VOA reported.
President Mogae ruled Botswana for two terms - 1998 to 2008 - before he stepped down in April this year. He is to receive a sum of US$5m over 10 years, and then $200 000 per year for the rest of his life thereafter. The former statesman will also receive $200 000 per year to support causes he identifies, a springboard into charity and humanitarianism.
Mogae’s government was credited with budget surpluses, economic stability and growth, high foreign reserves as well as political stability. Botswana got independence in 1966 but has never been involved in intra-state conflict and coups as compared to other African countries. It has always been stable and its diamonds are effectively managed for national economic prosperity compared to other countries where diamonds are funding conflict, corruption and regional instability.
The Prize
The Prize was coined by Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese billionaire who also founded African telecommunication giant, Celtel. The prize committee which selects winners is composed of Chairperson Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General and Nobel Laureate, Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland and Nobel Laureate, Aïcha Bah Diallo, former Minister of Education in Guinea and Director of Basic Education at UNESCO, Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Nobel Laureate.
Others are Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity and former Prime Minister of Tanzania. Graça Machel, the renowned international advocate for women’s and children’s rights, is also joining the Prize Committee of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the organisation established in 2006 to support great African leadership. It is meant to foster and encourage democratic statesman among African rulers.
The coveted $5-million Mo Ibrahim Prize for African leadership has been conferred on former Botswana President Festus Mogae. He was rewarded on Monday for maintaining stability, prosperous path and leading the fight against AIDS. His efforts won Botswana the name 'the African Shining Jewel.'
AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02
African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02
Combating HIV infections among African women08/02
Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02
Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02
Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02
Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02
AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02
Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02
Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02
AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01
Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01
Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01
Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01
Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01
