19 Oct 2026

Crowds gathered in Kanye on Saturday to bid farewell to farming giant, Basimanyana Peter ‘BPJ’ Masire, a man widely remembered as virtuous, learned and a true pioneer of Botswana’s cattle industry.

The Setswana words “Motebele o sebakeng, mohutse o sena wano” captured the mood as mourners celebrated a life well lived.

Speaking at the funeral service,,Kgosi Motswakgakala Sealetsa described Masire as an intellect of note whose carefully honed skills in the cattle industry had shaped the beef sector, from breeding excellence to the production of quality herds ready for the European market.

He praised Masire as a versatile man and a friend to many regardless of race; someone who built lasting relationships across diverse backgrounds and constantly refined his passion for raising superior cattle by learning from others, both locally and internationally.

With the country’s newly established plans to increase its national herd and improve the quality of livestock, Kgosi Sealetsa noted that Masire would have been a befitting farmer to onboard and guide other farmers in achieving that goal.

He urged Masire’s children to mirror their father’s example and continue growing the farming legacy he had charted.

Born on 1 January 1938 in Moshaneng and educated in Kanye, Masire died on 12 October at the age of 88. He is remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather and visionary Brahman breeder whose work helped shape modern cattle farming in Botswana.

In 1966 he married Alma Masire. Together they raised a family grounded in faith and hard work.

He is survived by his wife Alma, children Mothapi, Basimane and Seabe Lame, daughters-in-law, a son-in-law and ten grandchildren. One son, Tshepo, predeceased him in 2021. Masire founded Bonya Mabogo Brahmans and became a trailblazer in cattle genetics. Far ahead of his time, he adopted artificial insemination and embryo-transfer technology after specialist training in Denmark in 1981, gaining further experience in Germany, Brazil and the United States.

He later served as an embryo-transplant instructor in several Latin American countries and judged cattle internationally.

One living symbol of that excellence is Mmagwe Striker, an exceptional speckled red Brahman female born in 2004, which produced an extraordinary 18 bulls, most of which became champions at agricultural shows. Her remarkable record reflects the superior genetics, careful selection and unwavering commitment to quality that defined the Bonya Mabogo Brahmans herd.

Through her offspring she carried the BPJ name into the show ring, turning Masire’s breeding standards into a continuing legacy of champions and proving that his vision and pioneering work endure beyond his lifetime.

His contribution earned him the Presidential Honour for Meritorious Service. Shortly before his death, he also received the Farmer’s Golden Hands Patriarch Award.

Beyond the farm he was an adventurous spirit who competed in the Toyota Desert Race in the 1970s and hunted in Alaska and the Kgalagadi. ENDS