01 Jul 2021

Sir Seretse Khama was a genuine democrat who believed in civil liberties, said Former President Dr Festus Mogae . He said this when paying tribute to the founding President at the commemoration of the 100th birthday of Sir Seretse in Gaborone yesterday.

Dr Mogae told the gathering of dignitaries at the ceremony that the iconic statesman was a pioneer of inclusive politics. “If there is any one anecdote I would forever share is that Sir Seretse Khama was a genuine democrat. He was a very consultative leader who never would wish to have his way alone, but always sought the views of the collective, before taking any position.

It did not matter to him that he was President, but mattered most that he was neither infallible nor possessed the monopoly of knowledge on any issues,” Dr Mogae told his audience.

Locating the importance of Sir Seretse Khama from a historic perspective, Dr Mogae noted that such open, consultative, transparent leadership and commitment to a market economy was unique during the early years of independent Africa.

Dr Mogae further noted that Sir Seretse Khama upheld liberal democracy and non-racism at the heart of a region embroiled in civil war, racial enmity and corruption. He said as a man who embraced the rule of law; he was always admired for his fairness and pure demeanour in dealing with various issues.

Dr Mogae, who served under Sir Seretse as Planning Officer in 1968 and later as member of his three-person think-tank and would become Botswana’s third president, said he legacy Sir Seretse bequeathed to the nation was that of selfless leadership. He thus implored current and future leaders to follow the example set by Sir Seretse and emulate his high standards of governance. Presidential

Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Minister, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said Sir Seretse was a visionary who left a lasting legacy for posterity.

“He and his compatriots then laid a foundation for the future prosperity and the fruits that we enjoy today. Sir Seretse was no ordinary man, he was a magnificent unifier who secured the nation with bonds that should never be broken,” Mr Morwaeng said.

Former long-serving cabinet minister, Mr Daniel Kwelagobe said Sir Seretse and other independence-era pioneers worked hard to forge a common national identity by unifying the separate tribal and ethnic identities that prevailed before independence.

“Sir Seretse Khama and his colleagues such as Sir Ketumile Masire had the foresight to realise we could only go far and achieve great things if we forged ourselves into a single nation under one flag.

We should thank God that at that particular time in our history he raised a leader who could clearly articulate this vision of a united nation with a common destiny,” Mr Kwelagobe said. Ends