I travel to quench thirst – Masisi
Mompati Tlhankane | Monday October 2, 2023 06:00
Masisi who has often received criticism for his frequent overseas trips was addressing the media yesterday. He amongst others staunchly lauded his international travels, asserting that they yield tangible benefits for Botswana.
Masisi said many wonder why he undertakes so many travels but he had made it clear that he is in a hurry because the lifeline of a politician is very limited. He said as the president the constitution gives him ten years if he gets to be elected twice.
He said the minimum is five years and that period could be shorter given Botswana’s automatic succession where a president hands over a year before the general election after two terms. Masisi indicated that he doesn’t know the formula for a number of times a president should travel outside compared to a diplomat or a civil servant. “I decide in my fashioning of the speed at which I want to take this country forward,” he highlighted.
He said there is an urgency of the need to re-engage the world because during his predecessor Ian Khama’s tenure Botswana hardly met anybody at the president level. Masisi said he has to make up for lost time because there is no one who went on bilateral missions that were predicated on trying to diversify the economy deeply.
“In the analysis that I had to undertake at my level when a head of state comes in doors open wider than when a minister comes in,” he said. Masisi further gave himself a pat on the back saying Botswana would not have gotten Texan bulls and semen had he not been there. He said if had not it would have taken a much longer time. He said if it wasn’t because of his foreign engagements Botswana would not have gotten access to deep pocketed investors. Masisi said he went directly to engage them and it worked.
Masisi said he is not feeling guilty or apologetic about the frequency of his travels. “Many might think it’s a joy ride but it’s not. It is very draining. Many might think we actually do little work but the work is tiring and backbreaking,” he stated.
Furthermore, Masisi revealed that from the time Botswana gained independence the history of the development of the country up to now has been informed by engagements and relations with other countries. “Our living experiences on a daily basis are a testament of the results of our engagements with the outside world. Business trade comes about because of our relations with that are built. We are wearing clothes that are results of those engagements. And often when results are so bad they may result in an imposition of sanctions and luckily for Botswana we have not arrived there”, he stated.
Also defending Masisi’s travels, foreign affairs Minister Dr Lemogang Kwape said one of the levers that Masisi has in the development of Botswana is foreign policy. “Sometimes we tend to forget why the president travels. He travels so that we can maintain our democratic standing because he is selling the Botswana story. He travels because we have to develop. He travels because we have to be self reliant. He travels because he wants us to be united,” Dr Kwape pointed out.
Dr Kwape has previously lauded Masisi’s external travel in Parliament few months ago when he told legislators that the President is the country’s Principal Diplomat and as such continues to play a crucial role in advancing Botswana’s foreign policy through promoting national interests at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.