Moutlakgola P.K. Nwako

Who is Moutlakgola P.K. Nwako?

Moutlakgola Palgrave Kediretswe Nwako was a former politician and diplomat in Botswana. Nwako served as the first foreign minister from 1966-1969. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1989 to 1999.

Born on the 6th of August 1922, Mout was one of the political architects of modern Botswana during his long and distinguished career of public service, Nwako occupied a number of cabinet portfolios before retiring as Speaker of the National Assembly in 1999. he was also a key founding member of the Botswana Democratic Party.

Nwako spent most of his boyhood helping to mind the family cattle. At the age of fourteen he was sent for Primary Education at Khama Memorial School. Thereafter, in 1943, he went to Tiger Kloof Institute near Vryburg, where he completed his secondary education. Nwako's classmates at Tiger Kloof such late associates as Motsamai Mpho, Edison Masisi, Washington Meswele and Quett Masire. With Masire in particular, he developed friendly rivalry as the two competed for top academic honours in the class. Nwako was especially keen on Mathematics, a talent that earned him a nickname "Pythagoras".