Long Live QKJ!
In post-colonial Africa, most of the founding fathers were
first revered as Messianic figures only to later fall from grace causing
regression and division in the societies and nations that many other
revolutionaries bled for. It’s during this era that most African states were
poorly governed and torn apart due to recurring violence. Unlike most, the
foundation of Botswana’s building blocks were unity and the harmony of ideas
and sayings like,”Ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo” show the importance of dialogue
where a conflict rises. This in particular is what makes our story different, which makes Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire the
greatest statesmen Africa has seen.
Joni in particular was an easy going
fellow, who usually eased up intense and formal occasions with his wit and
humour, but during times that demanded it, he was stern. Having been the first
Finance Minister, he delivered the first ever budget speech and stands as one
of the architects of our economic and infrastructural development.
Shortly after the death of the first President, confidence in
the ruling party declined. The anxious electorate wasn’t used to the
Multi-party democracy system, let alone being ruled by anyone other than
royalty, so winning the people’s confidence was his first hurdle. Which he did
when the ruling party recorded a landslide victory during the 1984 General Elections,
winning 29 out of 34 seats. His term was
characterized by emphasis on development of the education system since he found
Seepapitso Senior Secondary School, the first Senior High School in Kanye and
was in fact the first Head teacher.
This article however isn’t about his accolades, it’s about
my interaction with the old man. The first time that I established contact with
him was through a book. “Very brave or Very foolish”, an autobiography that
also serves as his personal account of the colonial and post-colonial Botswana.
Who would have known that under his bicycle trail, a country
called Botswana was itching to be born?
It took me exactly 3 days to finish the book and upon
meeting him for the first time, he struck me as a very genuine person, no
different from the man that I read about and a lot more humble than I had
imagined. At that instant he became my hero. A man of peace, with unprecedented
conflict resolution skills. As far as I
can recall, our last conversation was about how much the change in climate has
affected agriculture, which later transpired into a life lesson about always
being prepared for opportunities to grow even where there’s no hope. Instead of
mourning him, I celebrate him. For he exuded selflessness and it was a
privilege to grow under his tutelage. He would have been 92 years and a day old today! Long Live QKJ!
In post-colonial Africa, most of the founding fathers were first revered as Messianic figures only to later fall from grace causing regression and division in the societies and nations that many other revolutionaries bled for. It’s during this era that most African states were poorly governed and torn apart due to recurring violence. Unlike most, the foundation of Botswana’s building blocks were unity and the harmony of ideas and sayings like,”Ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo” show the importance of dialogue where a conflict rises. This in particular is what makes our story different, which makes Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire the greatest statesmen Africa has seen.
Joni in particular was an easy going fellow, who usually eased up intense and formal occasions with his wit and humour, but during times that demanded it, he was stern. Having been the first Finance Minister, he delivered the first ever budget speech and stands as one of the architects of our economic and infrastructural development.
It took me exactly 3 days to finish the book and upon meeting him for the first time, he struck me as a very genuine person, no different from the man that I read about and a lot more humble than I had imagined. At that instant he became my hero. A man of peace, with unprecedented conflict resolution skills. As far as I can recall, our last conversation was about how much the change in climate has affected agriculture, which later transpired into a life lesson about always being prepared for opportunities to grow even where there’s no hope. Instead of mourning him, I celebrate him. For he exuded selflessness and it was a privilege to grow under his tutelage. He would have been 92 years and a day old today! Long Live QKJ!
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