Former Botswana President Mogae’s Recent Award ‘Testimony’ to Good Governance, Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Editorial Says

The 2008 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which was awarded earlier this week to former Botswana President Festus Mogae, is "testimony" to the "solid foundation that Mogae laid for good governance" and his efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, a Mmegi editorial says. Mogae particularly will be "remembered for his tireless efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS" in Botswana, the editorial says, adding, "There was a time when the epidemic seemed set to decimate the population of this country, and this eventually would have come to pass if Mogae had not been equal to the task." Although HIV/AIDS still is a "huge problem" in Botswana, before Mogae left office, he "managed to arrest" HIV/AIDS in the country and reduce the stigma associated with the disease, according to the editorial. In addition, Mogae "brought hope to people that had given up hope by introducing" antiretroviral drugs and mother-to-child transmission programs, the editorial says, adding, "In a nutshell, Mogae left a solid foundation in the fight against HIV/AIDS. His is a record to be emulated by other leaders in Africa and the world" (Mmegi, 10/22).