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The University of Botswana (UB) has conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa (DLitt), upon veteran unionist Mr Johnson Pikiniki Motshwarakgole. Mr Motshwarakgole’s award is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the labour movement, humanities and social sciences. The award was presented during the University's 42nd Graduation Ceremony on the 17th of October 2024.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Mr Motshwarakgole has been a key figure in advocating for workers' rights across Botswana. He played a key role in founding the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSO), Southern Africa Trade Union Council (SATUC) and Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU). His leadership led to critical victories, including the reinstatement of union members following the 1991 and 2011 public service strikes.

Beyond his union work, Mr Motshwarakgole has made significant leadership contributions to national commissions. He served as Vice Chairperson of the Presidential Constitutional Review Commission in 2021 and was a member of both the Ibrahim Salaries Review Commission (2007) and the Steenkamp Salaries Review Commission in the 1970s. His expertise and advocacy helped shape key national policies particularly in the area of workers' rights and wages.

Internationally, Mr. Motshwarakgole has represented Botswana at various high-level forums. These include his role as an official delegate to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva between 2015 and 2019 as well as his participation in the US State Department Delegation in 2000. Notably, he also joined President Sir Ketumile Masire on a state visit to Chile in 1997, further cementing his influence on the global stage.

Through this honorary degree, the University of Botswana acknowledges not only Mr Motshwarakgole’s contributions to the labour movement but also his significant achievements in shaping national and international labour relations as well as his leadership in driving social justice and policy reform.