Tributes continue to pour in for the late former Botswana president Sir Ketumile Masire. Masire passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in the capital Gaborone, after undergoing surgery.
Masire will be laid to rest on Thursday at his home village of Kanye.
Flags were flying at half-mast as people from far and wide signed the condolence books.
In Botswana, and at High Commissions around the world Sir Ketumile Masire continues to be praised for a life well lived.
A former cabinet minister Sheilla Dinotshe-Tlou says she learnt a lot from Masire’s governance.
“As a nation, we were led by a simple, graceful human being, very humble and one who ensured that when he talked he was able to address the nation on radio, and we got to know what was happening in the country.”
Botswana Government spokesperson Jeff Ramsey says many in Botswana believe that Masire’s legacy will live on.
“He really set the pace for the types of planning we have, in terms of expansion of schools, welfare, as well as investment and infrastructure. And that began even before the mineral wealth.”
Masire’s body will lie in state on Tuesday to allow the public to pay; their last respect and a memorial service will be held on Tuesday in the capital, Gaborone.
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– By Tsholofelo Mathibedi
