Mbeki pays tribute to ‘steadfast’ Masire

KANYE: Former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki was among the thousands of mourners who braved the cold weather yesterday to bid farewell to former president of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire, who died last week.

Among other former African heads of state in attendance were Manoel Guebuza of Mozambique, Hefekepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, King Letsie of Lesotho, the former secretary-general of the Organisation of African Unity Salim Ahmed Salim and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mbeki told mourners Masire was never intimidated by the South African apartheid government and contributed immensely to the success of the liberation struggle against apartheid.

“I am certain I speak for all of the people of southern Africa when I pay a heartfelt tribute to Sir Ketumile for the central role he and his colleagues played in assuring that this country and its people remain steadfast in their support for the total liberation of southern Africa”.

Mbeki stated that had Masire succumbed to the intimidation of the apartheid regime, the Struggle would not have succeeded.

He said Masire and his predecessor Sir Seretse Khama stood their ground and made the necessary sacrifices to help bring down the tyrannical minority apartheid regime next door to Botswana.

He said Masire was a principal architect of modern-day Botswana, transforming it from one of the poorest to a middle income state.

Mbeki attributed the birth of the SADC and the success of frontline states to Masire, who also contributed to the Democratic Republic of Congo peace deal, the resolution of the aftermath of the Rwanda genocide and in other regions on the continent.

He described him as an outstanding African who lived a life that brought good for millions of people in his own country and beyond.

“He was a great son of Botswana and Africa.”