Khama opens up ... about father’s death
‘ We were robbed of more time with him as he died so early at 59’ Says good times he had with Seretse Khama were during holidays when they went to the bush camping and the farm Remembers accompanying his father on state visits
Former president Dr. Ian Khama opened up about his father’s death Thursday this week as the nation celebrated Botswana’s founding father, Sir Seretse Khama’s centenary, saying the family was robbed of more time with him.
Seretse, the first president of Botswana died in 1980, at the age of 59, after ruling the country for 14 years. In an interview with Botswana Guardian this week Dr. Ian Khama said at a personal level, for him the centenary means a time for deep reflection about the times they had together with him and his mother and how much as a family they miss their parents and how “we were robbed of more time with him as he died so early at 59”. As for his memories with his father Khama remembered that the good times he had with his father were mostly during holidays when “we went to the bush camping and the farm”.
Former president Dr. Ian Khama opened up about his father’s death Thursday this week as the nation celebrated Botswana’s founding father, Sir Seretse Khama’s centenary, saying the family was robbed of more time with him.
Seretse, the first president of Botswana died in 1980, at the age of 59, after ruling the country for 14 years.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian this week Dr. Ian Khama said at a personal level, for him the centenary means a time for deep reflection about the times they had together with him and his mother and how much as a family they miss their parents and how “we were robbed of more time with him as he died so early at 59”.
As for his memories with his father Khama remembered that the good times he had with his father were mostly during holidays when “we went to the bush camping and the farm”.
He also reminisced about the times they had together as “I got older and discussed current affairs and exchanged opinions on topical issues”.
He said his father would regale them about his youth and the challenges he faced from the British when he wanted to “marry my mother” and the stories of their time in exile, which were always “very compelling to listen to”.
Khama remembers the period leading up to independence and the early years after that as well as accompanying his father on some state visits and witnessing relationships being built between other leaders and governments.
Khama appealed to the nation to use the centenary to reflect on the journey it has been on as a people and to do so thinking about all of the founding president’s generation who contributed to nation building and the sacrifices they made. For a person who was regarded as a nation builder, Seretse Khama’s centenary is being commemorated at a time when there is a rift between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his predecessor, Ian Khama. The latter has since left his father’s Botswana Democratic Party to form the Botswana Patriotic Front ( BPF).
In fact the two statesmen even failed to share a table for the centenary celebrations yesterday ( Thursday).
Two celebrations were held, one in Serowe, the other in Gaborone. Khama said that he was not going to be part of the national event at Parliament grounds as he deems his invitation as an ‘ afterthought.’
In Serowe the centenary celebrations are orgainsed by a committee headed by former Minister in the presidency Nonofo Molefhi. Although President Masisi was invited to the Serowe celebrations, he will be hosting dignitaries at Parliament grounds in Gaborone at national level. A statement from Office of the President says the Gaborone celebration will be held under the theme, ‘ Living the legacy 100 years on’. Khama recently announced that “The Khama family will be marking the centenary of their father and grandfather Sir Seretse Khama at a memorial service in the UCCSA church in Serowe at 14: 30hrs followed by the laying of wreaths at the Royal Cemetery on Thursday the 1st July 2021”. In an interview this week Khama confirmed that he has been invited to the “National Level” event where Masisi is scheduled to speak.
He however stated that the invitation was extended to them late, while they had already made plans for the Serowe event indicating that he received his invitation on Monday this week.
“I received a card on Monday. That is all. No attempt to inform us of the intention, no invitation for the family to speak or lay any wreaths. Being announced so late it was obviously an afterthought”, the former President said.
Government spokesperson Andrew Sesinyi could not be reached for comment at press time as he was said to be busy preparing for the centenary.
Khama stated that in Serowe the programme of the day will include a small get together at the kgotla due to Covid protocols; a visit to his father’s statue followed by a centenary memorial service and then the laying of wreaths and flowers at the Royal cemetery.
He said they would have wanted something big but because of the restrictions, they opted for a small gathering.