Botswana president Ian Khama has paid his last respects to former president Sir Ketumile Masire. Masire’s body is lying in state at the country’s parliament, and Batswana are paying their respects.

Botswana vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi says Masire’s contribution to the struggle for stability of the region cannot go unnoticed.

Masire offered refuge to many freedom fighters in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region during his tenure as president, and his country was sometimes attacked by apartheid South Africa, where scores of people were killed, including Batswana.

– By Itumeleng Kgajane