01 Jul 2021

Botswana will forever be grateful to its founding president, Sir Seretse Khama, for his remarkable leadership style that catapulted the country from extreme poverty and underdevelopment to prosperity, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The President made the remarks today when giving a keynote address during Sir Seretse Khama commemoration marking the 100^th year of the late president’s birth on July 1, 1921.

Describing Sir Seretse as a 'remarkable, outstanding man,” and “one of Africa’s greatest icons,' Dr Masisi said the country’s significant progress from being a vulnerable, underdeveloped state at independence to its current middle-income status was attained through the efforts of its visionary founders.

“Botswana’s success story could not have been sheer luck. Our history is awash with extraordinary men and women who were more than prepared to make sacrifices for Botswana. Inheriting a weak, impoverished landlocked state with no revenue and heavily dependent on financial and food aid, our circumstances did not obstruct Sir Seretse Khama’s vision for a prosperous Botswana,” Dr Masisi said.

Extolling the virtues of the late president, he described him as a unifying figure committed to non-racism, democracy, sound administrative management of the country’s resources and a people-centred approach.

“Seretse, as his name suggests, ‘the clay that binds together’, was an embodiment of democracy, unity, non-racism and development. He was a constitutional republican and a democrat who pioneered inclusive politics and rejected the one party state system and monarchical rule. This was because he also detested absolutism, abuse of power and greed by anyone,” Dr Masisi stated.

President Masisi said Sir Seretse’s values found expression in Botswana’s four national principles of democracy, development, self reliance and unity adopted at independence.

The principles were championed “with vigour and tenacity” by Sir Seretse in guiding the country towards political stability and socio-economic development, he said.

“Allow me to express my profound gratitude to the people of Serowe, for lending Botswana such a legend and a visionary statesman who made a formidable contribution to the success that Botswana is today and to the development of Africa, especially Southern Africa,” Dr Masisi said. 

Born into one of the country’s prominent royal families, Sir Seretse was the son of Bangwato paramount chief Sekgoma II and his wife,Tebogo and grandson of Khama III.

Dignitaries who graced the event included former president Dr Festus Mogae, former vice president Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, former cabinet minister and Botswaana Democratic Party stalwart Mr Daniel Kwelagobe, former Botswana National Front leader Mr Otsweletse Moupo as well as former Botswana’s permanent representative to the UN Mr Joesph Legwaila. Ends