MOTHUSI NKGOWE OF BOTSWANA ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF FIRST COMMITTEE
Press Release
BIO/3103
GA/DIS/3077
MOTHUSI NKGOWE OF BOTSWANA ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF FIRST COMMITTEE
19970916 Mothusi Nkgowe, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations, was this afternoon elected Chairman of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).In his capacity as Deputy Permanent Representative, a post he has held since 1994, Mr. Nkgowe also served, from 1995 to 1996, on his country's delegation to the United Nations Security Council. During February 1995, he chaired that body's informal working group when it was considering a response to the Secretary-General's "Supplement to an Agenda for Peace". Prior to that (1992-1994), he served as Botswana's Deputy Director for International Relations, responsible for international organizations and for supervising the desk officers for Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Nkgowe served as Counsellor at Botswana's Embassy to the Nordic countries, based in Sweden, with accreditation also to the former Soviet Union (later, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus). His responsibilities there included day-to-day administration, coordinating manpower resources, budgetary liaison, and addressing matters relating to the welfare of Botswana nationals and students in the region.
Mr. Nkgowe began in his country's foreign service in 1980, serving until 1985 as External Affairs Officer, first within the Administration Section and later as head of the Political Section. From 1986 to 1988, he was First Secretary of Botswana's Embassy and Mission to the European Communities, based in Belgium, with accreditation also to France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
During his years of diplomatic service, Mr. Nkgowe has participated in a wide range of international conferences and meetings, by such bodies as the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Global Coalition for Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Non-Aligned Movement. He also participated in a Nordic-sponsored seminar on reform of the United Nations in the economic and social fields. Prior to entering the foreign service, he served from 1976 as an Assistant Teacher, both at the Bobonong Secondary School in Bobonong and at Mater Spei College in Francistown.
Mr. Nkgowe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Education from the University of Botswana and Swaziland, where he majored in public administration and political science. He has also studied public administration at the Institute of Development Management in Gaborone.
Born on 6 April 1952, Mr. Nkgowe is married and has three sons.
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