29 Jul 2025

Plans are underway to erect a statue at Lobatse, Old Legislative Council to honour the late former president Sir Ketumile Masire as one of the architects of Botswana’s democracy.

In an interview, Motswedi kgotla court president in Lobatse, Kgosi Serogola Seretse said the Sir Ketumile Masire, who served as the country second president from 1980 to 1998, left a remarkable legacy. He said Sir Ketumile would also be remembered for his sterling track record as the first Minister of Finance as well as Vice-President who championed robust interventions to propel Botswana from a status of least developed country to a thriving economy.

Kgosi Seretse said the late president contributed immensely to Botswana’s emergence during his tenure as he steadfastly set the country on the path to progress and peace. Thus, he said it was pertinent to homour such legacy through erection of a statue at a place where Botswana took independence and was shaped-Lobatse.

Additionally, he underscored that the late former president was a pioneer of the Legislative Council and played an integral role in 1961 being elected to both the higher Legislative Council, and reformed African Council as such it was critical to revamp the Old Legislative Council in Lobatse which was currently dilapidated .

He highlighted that it was at the Old Legislative Council in Lobatse where the late first President of the Republic of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Ketumile interpreted Botswana’s Constitution towards advancement of the nation as such it was befitting to place his statue there. The development, he said would serve to mark Sir Ketumile Masire’s historical contribution to Botswana and Southern Africa’s development and thus prop up Lobatse’s rich heritage and in the long run add value, add aesthetic appeal and thus revitalise the town.

Kgosi Seretse said plans were underway to consult the Masire family to get their blessings on the project, which once complete would also serve as a tourist attraction and thus boost the local economy.

He said the idea was conceptualized against the backdrop that Lobatse was dilapidated yet it was the first town where Botswana was founded adding that the late Sir Seretse Khama, and Sir Ketumile Masire resided in Lobatse and have played a meaningful role in shaping the political landscape in Botswana and Southern Africa. Such heritage, he said should be preserved for posterity. “We want to erect a statue not just to honour the past but to remind the present and the future of where we come from,” he said.

He said Lobatse already had developed key heritage sites such as Samora Machel museum, Fish Keitseng monument as such it was critical to develop and preserve more historic sites in town to boost the small town. ENDS