Africa-Press – Botswana. Former Minister of the then Local Government and Rural Development Ministry now Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Kgotla Autlwetse has passed on at the age of 76.
A family spokesperson Mr Tinabo Chabaesele told BOPA in an interview that the late Autlwetse succumbed to illness, Tuesday evening at Gaborone Private Hospital.
Mr Chabaesele said funeral arrangements were underway and that Autlwetse would be laid to rest in his home village of Serowe.
He described the late Autlwetse as a father figure, mentor and a friend to all who cherished humbleness to climb the success ladder.
Mr Chabaesele said the former minister was a master farmer who specialised in cattle breeding and a servant to all through political representation under the Botswana Democratic Party(BDP).
Autlwetse served as Member of Parliament for Serowe North from 2014 to 2019 under the BDP ticket and later served as a specially elected MP from 2019 to 2024 after losing the seat to Botswana Patriotic Front.
Mr Chabaesele spoke fondly of Autlwetse, who started his political career in 1994 as a nominated councillor and later became a chairperson at then Central District Council, now dissolved after elevating sub-councils to fully-fledged districts.
Autlwetse has under his name, positions of Council Treasurer, Council Chairman and Personnel Officer, among others.
He holds Certificates in Accountancy, Business Studies, Public Administration and Personnel Management from Botswana Institute of Administration and Commerce (BIAC).
His political positions include that of Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.
His area of specialty is accounting having served diligently in various administrative councils responsible for planning, budget and budget utilisation, accounting and prudent use of resources.
In 1973, he joined BCL Mine as a personnel officer responsible for recruitment and selection of the mine labour force until 1976 when he quit to join the public service in the Central District Headquarters as a senior accountant.
He was later transferred on promotion to Gaborone City Council on position of a deputy treasurer. He continued ascending the promotional ladder culminating in his appointment as council treasurer in the North East District Council (Francistown).
His responsibilities included among others planning for equitable distribution of resources in the North East District Council until he resigned in 1987.
Upon resignation Autlwetse pursued cattle farming where he had made significant strides in commercialising his entity.
It was therefore, in the private domain that he developed and nurtured his political interest and became a nominated councillor in 1994.
His vast experience in local governance and policy articulation won him the chairmanship of the Central District Council from 1999–2004.
He was also the chairperson of the Parliamentary Finance and Estates Committee.
He was promoted to be Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, responsible for tertiary education.
In October 2016, he was transferred to the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security in the same capacity where he selflessly served until March 2018.
In April 2018, he was appointed Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development until his promotion into full minister in February 2022 until dissolution of Parliament prior to elections of October 2024.
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