Motlatsi Keseabetwe Segokgo (1928–1977) was a Motswana politician. He served as a member of the

National Assembly of Botswana The National Assembly is the sole Legislature, legislative body of Botswana's unicameral Parliament of Botswana, Parliament, of which consists of the President of Botswana, President and the National Assembly. The House passes laws, provides Min ...

and the Cabinet of Botswana from their foundation in 1965 until he took his own life amid a corruption scandal in 1977.

Biography

Motlatsi Keseabetwe Segokgo was born in

Tlokweng Tlokweng is a peri-urban settlement classified as an urban village located east of the capital of Botswana, Gaborone and falling under the jurisdiction of South East District Council. It can be considered part of the conurbation of Gaborone. ...

Bechuanaland Protectorate The Bechuanaland Protectorate () was a British protectorate, protectorate established on 31 March 1885 in Southern Africa by the United Kingdom. It became the Botswana, Republic of Botswana on 30 September 1966. History Scottish missionary ...

, in 1928. He worked as a teacher, serving as head teacher of Batlokwa National School. He then moved from education to politics, joining the

Bechuanaland Democratic Party The Botswana Democratic Party (abbr. BDP, colloquially known as Domkrag) is a centre-right political party in Botswana. From the country's inaugural election in 1965 until the 2024 general election the party governed the country without interrup ...

. He was elected to the

in 1965 to represent the Kgatleng and Tlokweng constituency. Segokgo was appointed

Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

upon taking office in the 1st Parliament of Botswana. He was appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Water Affairs in 1974 and then became the Minister of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs in 1974. He was accused of corruption while in office, and President

Seretse Khama Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was a Motswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980. Born into an influential royal famil ...

asked Segokgo to resign from the cabinet. Segokgo committed suicide rather than resigning. His children have since become politically active.

References

1928 births 1977 deaths Members of the National Assembly (Botswana) Botswana Democratic Party politicians Finance ministers of Botswana Industry ministers of Botswana Water ministers of Botswana Politicians who died by suicide Suicides in Botswana {{Botswana-politician-stub