BY SPECIAL REPORTER
THE Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation wishes to announce that His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, has appointed Mr. Augustine Ntshomane Makgonatsotlhe as the Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Botswana to the State of Kuwait.
Mr. Makgonatsotlhe is a seasoned legal practitioner with extensive experience in the public service, spanning over twenty years. Among others, he has served as Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration) at the Office of the President (2005-2007); Chief State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Chambers (2003-2005); and acting Legal Advisor for the former President His Excellency Sir Ketumile Masire (2000-2003), during the Inter-Congolese Dialogue.
In his most recent post, he served as Botswana’s fourth Ombudsman from 2016 to 2022. While in this role, Mr. Makgonatsotlhe also held the position of Regional Coordinator for the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), and was a member of the AOMA Executive Committee.
In addition to his wealth of experience in the human rights field, the Ambassador-Designate, has vast experience contributing to Botswana’s multilateral diplomacy agenda.
Accordingly, while serving as the Secretary for Defence, Justice and Security at the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security (MDJS), from 2007 to 2016, he was responsible for ensuring Botswana’s compliance to her human rights treaty obligations. Under this portfolio, he also facilitated the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security’s participation at key strategic meetings of regional and international bodies, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Commonwealth, and a number of the United Nations Human Rights Council Sessions. Ambassador-Designate Makgonatsotlhe is expected to take up his appointment in Kuwait in April 2022. He takes over from Ambassador Manyepedza Lesetedi who completed his tour of duty in 2021.
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