27 Jul 2025

 Scores of dignitaries braved the cold on Saturday to honour the legacy of former president Sir Ketumile Masire and Lady Olebile Masire at GooMotebejana ward in Kanye.

Speaking at a ceremony to unveil tombstones in honour of the former first couple, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, a friend of Sir Ketumile  described the former president as a resilient nation builder and true democrat.

Sir Ketumile assumed presidency in 1980 following the passing of the founding president Sir Seretse Khama. 

At the time, Vice President Gaolathe said, Botswana stood at cross roads as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region was marred by political instability, during the apartheid regimes.

“He assumed office during one of the worst drought years yet under him Botswana became an oasis of stability, a beacon of democracy and an economic success story. His leadership was defined by resilience,” he said. 

Additionally, Mr Gaolathe said Sir Ketumile, a pioneering farmer championed Botswana’s economic prosperity, education and rural development. 

He said the former president was an oasis of wisdom, a champion of peace, who carried himself with humility and served the people selflessly. 

In the diplomacy space, he elevated Botswana on a global stage as a member of the frontline states and through his leadership he chaired SADC, and served as vice chairperson of Organisation of African Unity. 

Also, Sir Ketumile was chairman of Global Coalition and a member of the United Nations group for Africa’s development where he elevated Botswana’s voice. 

The Vice President noted Sir Ketumile’s promotion of democracy, instituting pioneering constitutional reforms where he introduced limit to presidential terms to two during a period when many African states experienced military coups and dictatorship rule. 

“He was a man of integrity, he governed without greed and left office with the same humility that he came to it with, he was a people centred leader, a man of courage and diversity, he led with calm determination,” he said. 

Furthermore, Mr Gaolathe remembered Sir Ketumile as a shrewd negotiator who played key roles of mediating and negotiating peaceful political resolutions in Africa and chaired the panel of eminent persons who investigated 1994 Rwandan Genocide and was a facilitator of inter Congolese Dialogue.

Sir Ketumilwe  also played role of SADC mediator in Lesotho adding that it was critical to continue his legacy, “As we celebrate this centenary we must reflect and honor him with action,” he said. 

Explaining the tombstone design concept, Ms Sefalana Modisi said the design was inspired by values, integrity that Sir Ketumile and Lady Olebile embodied. 

She added that Lady Olebile  stood beside her husband not only as a wife but also and as a partner who dedicated her life to youth and community development as well as assisting the vulnerable through charity work.

 On behalf of her siblings, the couple’s youngest child Ms Matshidiso Masire said her parents lived their lives with extraordinary grace and a legacy that continued to light their way forward. She said the memorial site was dedicated to the memory of their parents who were national treasure. “Their lives to us were a reflection of humility, service, wisdom and compassion, they led with strength, parented with a very deep devotion and served with unwavering commitment to community, country and humanity,” she said. 

This year, she said, marked what would have been Sir Ketumile Masire’s 100th birthday and thus they found it fitting as a family, working with government, to acknowledge a memory that continues to shape the nation today. 

“This memorial was conceived as a sanctuary of memory and a place where future generations can come to learn and to reflect and draw inspiration from the life lived with purpose and dedication,” she said. 

Minister for State President Mr Moeti Mohwasa described Sir Ketumile as a politically tolerant leader who created a fertile ground for democracy to thrive adding that in the past when there were internal rifts in the Botswana National Front, which led to a split at Palapye congress, Sir Ketumile Masire made a sympathy call to the then leader Dr Kenneth Koma, and later on did the same to the then leader Mr Otsweletse Moupo who was leading a party undergoing internal strive . 

This, he said reflected that even if they held different political views, they stood united as a nation. 

These doctrines, he added  must be taught the future generations Minister Mohwasa said the new government acknowledged contributions made by leaders who came before to build the nation, adding that this would strengthen upholding of human rights. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to uniting the nation. 

GooMotebejana ward’s Kgosi Motswakgakala Sealetsa appreciated government for making it possible to complete the project. He said the memorial site must be taken care of and also called for developments at GooMotebejana ward where Sir Ketumile was born.

He suggested a library where the full history could be documented, displayed and preserved. ENDS