00:01Botswana's former president, First House Mugae, who led the Southern African country for a decade from 1998, has died at
00:08the age of 86, the presidency said on Friday.
00:12An economist who studied in Britain, he oversaw strong economic growth during his two five-year terms in office.
00:19The government declared three days of national mourning, with flags to be flown at half-mast.
00:24Mugae came to power as the country's third president after Ketumile Masire stepped down, having previously served as his vice
00:32president.
00:33He was succeeded by Ian Khama in 2008, a former military chief and son of Botswana's first president.
00:40Mugae is credited with tackling HIV AIDS openly at a time when Botswana faced one of the world's highest infection
00:46rates.
00:47In 2008, he won the prestigious Ibrahim Prize for his leadership in sustaining the country's stability and prosperity during the
00:56crisis.
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