Kgotla Autlwetse
Motswana politician (1949–2025)
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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]
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 |
| Party | Botswana Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Gabalape Autlwetse |
| Occupation | Teacher, politician |
Early life and education
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
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
Member of Parliament (2014–2019)
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
Assistant Minister
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)
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
Electoral history
2019 election
| 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
| 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 | |||||