31 Oct 2019

Three heads of state are expected to grace today’s inauguration of Botswana’s fifth President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The trio are Zimbabwe’s Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu and Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi.

Brieifing the media on October 31, deputy permanent secretary Information and Broadcasting, Mr Oshinka Tsiang said other dignitaries expected were vice presidents of Seychelles, Angola and Tanzania. Some countries in the region would be represented by foreign relations ministers.

Dr Masisi’s inauguration follows Botswana’s 12th general elections held October 23 which saw his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) winning 38 out of the 57 parliamentary seats on offer.

President Masisi was declared the winner  by Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane immediately after his party reached the minimum 29 seats on October 25.

The main opposition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) secured 15 seats while the Botswana Patriotic Front won three and the Alliance for Progressive only one.

Mr Tsiang said the ceremony would be viewed live on public screens at strategic locations in towns and dikgotla at district level to afford Batswana the opportunity to take part. 

Members of the public are invited and are informed that gates will open between 6am and 7.30am at designated entry points being gates D and F. The public is advised to occupy their seats before 7.30 am. 

Further, members of the public are advised not to come dressed in political party regalia as the event was  national in nature.

The identified locations for viewing, according to Mr Tsiang, would all have free Wi-Fi allowing attendants to send and share pictures and videos of the activities. 

BoFiNet would stream for free for all device users in Botswana Hotspots and Mascom will also stream the event for free to all their 3G and 4G customers. 

“HUBTV a provider for Combi TV will stream in 30 public transport combis in Gaborone for different routes and also live on Facebook,” said Mr Tsiang.

He said meals/snacks would be provided at all the venues. ENDS