Ponatshego Kedikilwe

Ponatshego Honorius Kefaeng Kedikilwe
Vice President of Botswana
In office 31 July 2012 – 12 November 2014
President	Ian Khama
Preceded by	Mompati Merafhe
Succeeded by	Mokgweetsi Masisi
Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources of Botswana
In office January 2007 – Incumbent
President	Festus Mogae, Ian Khama
Personal details
Born	1938 Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana
Political party	BDP

Ponatshego Honorius Kefaeng Kedikilwe (born 1938) is a Botswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2012 to 2014. A member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), he has also served as Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources since 2007. He was first elected to the National Assembly as the Member of Parliament for Mmadinare in 1984.

Political career

Kedikilwe was educated at the Kikuyu College of Social Studies, the University of East Africa, Nairobi 1963-64; University of Rochester, NY 1964-65; University of Connecticut 1965-68; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.

Kedikilwe served as Chairman of the BDP until 2003. Vice-President Ian Khama was elected as BDP Chairman at a party congress on 22 July 2003, defeating Kedikilwe; Khama received 512 votes against 219 for Kedikilwe.^[1][2] Khama had been backed for the post by President Festus Mogae,^[3] and the outcome was viewed as crucial, paving the way for Khama to eventually succeed Mogae as President.^[1]

Kedikilwe was appointed as Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources in January 2007.^[4]

Vice-President Mompati Merafhe retired on 31 July 2012. President Ian Khama nominated Kedikilwe as Vice-President on 1 August 2012, and the National Assembly promptly approved the nomination; 38 MPs voted in favor, while 12 abstained from the vote. Kedikilwe was sworn in later in the same day. The government said that Kedikilwe would retain his portfolio as Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources.^[5]

Following the 2014 general election, Khama instead nominated Mokgweetsi Masisi as Vice-President on 12 November 2014.^[6]

References

1. "Botswana: Khama win eases Mogae's concerns", IRIN, 23 July 2003.
2. "Botswana: Vice-president wins ruling party chairmanship", Business Day, Johannesburg, 22 July 2003.
3. "Botswana: President Mogae defends decision to back Khama for party chairmanship", Radio Botswana, 19 June 2003.
4. "Botswana's cabinet reshuffle", The Economist, 25 January 2007.
5. "Kedikilwe sworn in as Vice President", Mmegi, volume 29, number 113, 2 August 2012.
6. "Parliament Endorses Masisi As VP", BOPA, 12 November 2014.

• Daily News (Government of Botswana). 2010-01-12