Kgotla Autlwetse
Honourable Kgotla Autlwetse | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Local Government and Rural Development | |
| In office 26 January 2022 – 1 November 2024 | |
| President | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Preceded by | Eric Molale |
| Succeeded by | Ketlhalefile Motshegwa |
| Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development | |
| In office 6 November 2019 – 5 April 2022 | |
| Member of Parliament for Serowe North | |
| In office 28 October 2014 – 28 August 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Baratiwa Mathoothe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kgotla Kenneth Autlwetse 4 January 1949 Serowe, Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana) |
| Died | 3 June 2025 (aged 76) Gaborone, Botswana |
| Nationality | Motswana |
| Political party | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Gabalape Autlwetse |
| Occupation | Teacher, politician |
Kgotla Kenneth Autlwetse (4 January 1949 – 3 June 2025) was a Motswana politician and educator who served as Botswana's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development from 2022 to 2024. A long-time member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), he earlier chaired the Central District Council and represented Serowe North in Parliament between 2014 and 2019.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Autlwetse was born in Serowe on 4 January 1949. After qualifying as a teacher in the early 1970s he worked as an educator and education officer in the Central District.[2]
Local government career
[edit]In the 1990s Autlwetse entered local politics, becoming a councillor and later chairperson of the Central District Council, Botswana's largest local authority.[3]
Parliamentary career
[edit]Member of Parliament (2014–2019)
[edit]After two earlier electoral defeats, Autlwetse won the Serowe North constituency for the BDP at the 2014 Botswana general election on 24 October, polling 9,611 votes (85 percent).[1] During the 11th Parliament, he sat on committees focused on rural infrastructure and youth employment. He lost what had long been regarded as a safe seat in the 2019 election, after a public rift between former president Ian Khama and his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, led many Serowe voters to abandon the BDP. He was later appointed a specially-elected MP by president Mokgweetsi Masisi following his defeat.[4]
Ministerial career
[edit]Assistant Minister
[edit]President Mokgweetsi Masisi appointed Autlwetse Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development soon after the 2019 elections.[5]
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (2022–2024)
[edit]On 26 January 2022, he was sworn in as full minister, succeeding Eric Molale.[6] He launched Botswana's National Decentralisation Strategy to work towards a less centralised state and mediated high-profile bogosi (chieftaincy) disputes.[7] Autlwetse left cabinet on 1 November 2024 following the defeat of the BDP at the 2024 Botswana general election.
Death
[edit]Autlwetse died after a prolonged illness in Gaborone, on 3 June 2025, at the age of 76.[8][9]
Electoral history
[edit]2019 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPF | Baratiwa Mathoothe | 5,394 | 42.66 | New | |
| BDP | Kgotla Autlwetse | 4,356 | 34.45 | –50.95 | |
| UDC | Keaobaka Kgano | 1,656 | 13.10 | +3.62 | |
| Independent | Dikgakgamatso Seretse | 926 | 7.32 | New | |
| AP | Dods Selebego | 312 | 2.47 | New | |
| Margin of victory | 1,038 | 8.21 | N/A | ||
| Total valid votes | 12,644 | 98.97 | +0.01 | ||
| Rejected ballots | 131 | 1.03 | –0.01 | ||
| Turnout | 12,775 | 83.87 | +2.38 | ||
| Registered electors | 15,231 | ||||
| BPF gain from BDP | Swing | +46.81 | |||
2014 election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDP | Kgotla Autlwetse | 9,611 | 85.40 | ||
| UDC | Dods Selebogo | 1,067 | 9.48 | ||
| BCP | Motswakhumo Basego | 576 | 5.12 | ||
| Margin of victory | 8,544 | 75.92 | |||
| Total valid votes | 11,254 | 98.96 | |||
| Rejected ballots | 118 | 1.04 | |||
| Turnout | 11,372 | 81.49 | |||
| Registered electors | 13,955 | ||||
| BDP notional hold | |||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "General Elections 2014 Parliamentary Results" (PDF). Independent Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Autlwetse's long walk to Parliament". Guardian Sun. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Profile: Kgotla Autlwetse". Sunday Standard. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Khama fingers Autlwetse in royal infighting". Mmegi Online. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Cabinet Appointments" (PDF) (Press release). Government of Botswana. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Hon. Kgotla Autlwetse sworn in as Minister". The Patriot on Sunday. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Government to speed up delivery". DailyNews. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Former Minister Kgotla Autlwetse dies after long illness". The Voice Botswana. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Mathala, Sharon (4 June 2025). "BDP, family confirm Autlwetse's passing". Mmegi Online. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2019
- ^ Independent Electoral Commission - Botswana National Assembly, 2014