Help Confront the Country�s Problems Says Masire in 2009

The relevance of his comments to the situation today is uncanny. Patrick van Rensburg’s recent death inevitably prompted a re-telling of his startling and in the end unsuccessful attempt to make the education system more relevant. Sir Ketumile’s comments relating to this attempt were pertinent in 2009 and are perhaps even more pertinent today.

And then, only a very short time ago, there was the closure of the BCL copper/nickel mine in Phikwe and the disastrous impact that it has had on so many lives. Masire may have feared such an outcome but he couldn’t have anticipated this closure. His comments about mining employment are therefore timely and demonstrate a rare sensitivity and feel for others. It is indeed the tone of his very personal speech which is so striking. He sets out the problems and galvanises his audience to react. Enough. I commend to you this shortened version of the speech for your attention. It is one which for which I have long had much regard.