20 Aug 2015

In line with an Ethiopian proverb that says ‘Where a woman rules, streams run uphill,’ Botswana’s own daughter of the soil Ms Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, yearns for the highest position in the The Commonwealth organisation.

The cadence has almost gained momentum as three of Ms Masire-Mwamba’s competitors from the Caribbean community are yet to decide on who among them represents the bloc in the run for the secretary generalship of the 54 member multi-lateral institution.

And Botswana is not leaving anything to chance, apart from bilaterally lobbying other countries for support, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama pushed for Ms Masire-Mwamba’s endorsement during Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Gaborone last June. 

This week, the business community, family, friends and well-wishers gathered at Phakalane-Golf Estate to lend support to Botswana’s nomination of Ms Masire-Mwamba as the candidate for Commonwealth Secretary General position. 

A renowned United Kingdom- based International Public Relations and Presentation consultant, Mr Harvey Thomas described Ms Masire-Mwamba as the most suitable candidate whose track record speaks for itself. 

He said Ms Masire-Mwamba has the potential to lead the Commonwealth, considering her past experiences during her position as deputy secretary general plus relationships she built at the Commonwealth board.

“Her vision of becoming a secretary general is for a good course as she has capability and experience. If the commonwealth has to realise its potential, it needs to find a secretary general who has a vision, who has a conviction, capability and experience and who has faith in people.”

He said if the commonwealth has to realise this vast potential of bringing 54 nations together on a voluntary basis, then it needs a leader like Ms Masire-Mwamba who understands how the family works, their differences, their opinions and decisions, but with firm leadership.

Another member of her campaign team, Mr Brian Goulden said Ms Masire-Mwamba was the right person to be the next secretary general, having served two terms as a deputy secretary general, and that she also has a broad spectrum of experience.

“She has a unique blend of expertise – an engineer by training,” he said.

He also said Ms Masire-Mwamba is an honorary bencher of the Middle Temple (one of Britain’s Inns of Court), which he said was a rare accolade made by some very hard-nosed senior lawyers who closely guard their professional standards.

For her part, Ms Masire-Mwamba said it was important that as the elections draw nearer, Batswana do not only show support for the candidate, but they also support endevours that allow her to reach out and engage both business community and the quality leadership in other countries.

She said a cross-section of the community, diplomats, members of corporate world, media and Batswana at large should continue to show support through financial contributions.

“I will be able to travel further and also engage with the Caribbean and other parts of the world to share my vision and solicit their support,” she said.

Ms Masire-Mwamba’s campaign started last year with the Commonwealth round-table, diplomats and non-commonwealth members held in Gaborone. 

According to her campaign team, she plans to go and solicit support in all London-based high commissions who sit on the Commonwealth board. Among the attendants were two former presidents, Sir Ketumile Masire and Mr Festus Mogae

Elections for the position will be held during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet summit in Malta on November, 2015.

Currently , the position of secretary general is occupied by Kamalesh Sharma of India. Ends