University of Botswana Community Mourns its Chancellor, Ms Linah Mohohlo
The University of Botswana is saddened by the passing on of its Chancellor Ms Linah Mohohlo. Ms Mohohlo passed on in the morning of June 2, 2021 at Bokamoso Private Hospital in Gaborone.
Ms Mohohlo was appointed Chancellor of the University of Botswana in 2018, making her the first woman to hold the position and the fifth Chancellor of the University of Botswana since its establishment in 1982. She had a firm and grounded understanding of the University which she served in various capacities over the years, notably the UB Foundation where she served as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Among her achievements as the Deputy Chairman of the University of Botswana Foundation Board of Trustees, she was able to secure funding from abroad for the First-in-the-Family Graduate Scholarship Programme in areas of Economics, Finance, Business and related disciplines at Masters degree level at the University of Botswana.
The programme has since its inception benefited 20 graduate students. Furthermore, Ms Mohohlo played a key role in raising funds for the UB Foundation Endowment Fund which so far has benefitted 242 graduate students. As an experienced leader, Ms Mohohlo also served the country in different capacities locally and internationally.
She began her career at Bank of Botswana in 1976 as Secretary. Ms Mohohlo rose through the ranks in operational and policy areas of the Bank whereupon 23 years later in 1999, she was appointed Governor (ex-officio Chairman of the Board) and served for 17 years to 2016. She was also Non-executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Botswana, and a member of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC 2000-02) representing the IMF Africa Group 1 Constituency.
Ms Mohohlo had earlier in her career worked for the IMF in the African Department and Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department. Her international engagements also included serving the United Nations as Eminent Person in a number of capacities, being a member of Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa and of the Africa Progress Panel. Ms Mohohlo’s active participation in the affairs of the World Economic Forum culminated in co-chairing the WEF for Africa in 2011. May her soul rest in peace.