Today was the Memorial Service for Botswana's much loved former President Sir Quett Masire who passed away last week aged 91.
He was Botswana's second President after Independance, from 1980 to 1998 and remained very much involved in community endeavours within Botswana, and other issues and initiatives in Africa.
As a way to have you know a little about this man, and honour his life and contribution to this country, here are a few clips from tributes pasted on Facebook:
"He had the knowledge of the country, of the status of Batswana at that time. He knew their values, value systems, idioms, he knew about botho, about the importance of not doing things that were shameful to yourself, your kgotla, and your community. He also concentrated on the idea of mmualebe--that people should be allowed to speak. His sense of humour and sense if understanding all people in Botswana, and his ability to communicate with people was what took us forward in terms of concepts and ideas that people did not appreciate at the beginning."
- Former Vice President Dr. Ponatshego Kedikilwe
"I think Rre Masire has a way of handling people—he is straightforward, he laughs. When you go to a meeting or an event, you don't say, "have you seen Masire somewhere?" because you just need to listen. He will be with people, just laughing. You just hear this laugh and know where he is. You couldn't miss his voice and laugh. You hear him through the door. He made everybody feel that they were part of it, there were no strangers at BDP meetings".
- Former long-serving Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament Dr. Gaositswe Chiepe
"I saw Masire for the first time as a teenager at a political rally in the 1960s. He had the charisma, people would come and follow his rallies. This man had the gift of the gab, when he addressed meetings at kgotla you just had to listen. What I loved about him was that when you asked questions, even provocative, he would never allow himself to be provoked. He would never dodge questions, no matter how potent. He also had a way of addressing annoying people in a manner that even the person asking the question would laugh at themselves. I loved the way he talked to these people. I always wondered why he could not convince his own people, the Bangwaketse, to vote for him. It annoys me why people of the same feather cannot support their own."
- Former Speaker of the National Assembly Margaret Nasha
"When journalists ask me what made Botswana an economic and democratic success story, I always explain it in two words--Quett Masire. He is an amazing person who I admire more than anyone in the world"
- Former Bank of Botswana Governor Quill Hermans
According to the Huffington Post, he was a leading figure in the independence movement and though he was Botswana's longest serving president, he is credited for introducing the two-term limits and automatic succession by the deputy in case the president retires.
Following the death of President Seretse Khama in 1980, Masire oversaw a period of unprecedented economic growth. He is regarded as the man who anchored Botswana's stability.
- from the Deutsche Welle (DW)(German Public Broadcaster) @ http://www.dw.com/…/former-botswana-president-ke…/a-39383352
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