Botswana’s former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, is following in the footsteps of African leaders like Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta and Nelson Mandela, who, after leaving office, formed charitable organizations to continue with their legacy.
At an occasion that was graced by the presence of president Festus Mogae, many BDP members and senior government officials, former president Masire launched his book in style as he announced in a slide presentation to the fully packed Gaborone Sun conference centre that he was in the process of registering a foundation to be named the Masire Foundation.
“ For a long time, I have been urged by my wife, friends and many other people to start a foundation and am pleased to inform you all that the Sir Ketumile Masire foundation is being registered and will be functional very soon,” he said.
Masire also said that the proceeds from the book would go to the foundation although some of the funds will be used to help fight diseases, social ills, aiding the destitute and offering educational programmes.
The book, titled Masire: very brave or very foolish? Memoirs of an African Democrat was commended by president Mogae as a tale of a brave leader who fought hard for the realization of Botswana’s democracy.
