Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation: A Continuum Of Great Statesmanship
Staff Writer | Monday June 26, 2017 15:41
The noble initiative “draws heavily from his inspiration and experiences as an elder statesman to contribute towards the socio-economic and political developments of the country and the sub-region,” according to the Foundation website.
Its core focus is on the areas of peace and good governance, children’s welfare and innovation and alternatives in Agriculture.
The SKMF has partnered with numerous partners including, the University of Botswana Foundation to jointly host panel discussions and open debates on issues of peace and good governance.
This is in addition to his immense peace and conflict resolution initiatives that he took part in regionally.
Since his retirement in 1998 Masire has been involved in numerous diplomatic initiatives in a number of African countries, including Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Swaziland.
Between 1998 and 2000 he served as Chairman of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities Investigating the Circumstances Surrounding the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, and between 2000–2003 was the facilitator for the Inter-Congolese National Dialogue, which had the objective of bringing about a new political dispensation for the Democratic Republic of Congo, in terms of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement.
“We are also working in partnership with the Ducere Foundation on The Peace Centres Initiative, which builds on the tradition of the Kgotla as a meeting place to discuss and resolve issues and disputes within the community,” reads the Foundation website.
The Foundations has an Annual Youth Summit on Leadership and Good governance and in 2013 introduced the Youth Skills Development and Networking Series.
Another area of focus for the Foundation is Children’s Welfare. SKMF is working with key health and social welfare stakeholders to establish the need in the country and develop appropriate intervention strategies.
One such intervention is the Youth in Agriculture Movement (YAM), which aims to develop and encourage the relevant participation in agricultural-based businesses by the youth in Botswana.
The programme aims to introduce free access information disseminating online portal, capacity-building through forums and workshops, development and distribution of agri-business briefs. Being the avid farmer he was, SKMF also focuses on innovation and alternatives in Agriculture.
The agricultural sector in Botswana has been identified as one of the areas that have a great potential to diversify the economy and create employment, especially in rural areas hence the Foundation has opened discussions with a number of stakeholders to identify and implement strategic programs promoting innovation and alternatives in agriculture.
Recently, the Institute of Development Management (IDM) and the Ohio State University, USA, held an honorary dinner for Masire and his Foundation where the mood was sombre as the nonagenarian lied in his sickbed at Bokamoso Private Hospital.
Addressing the gathering, IDM regional director, Richard Malikongwa praised the former President and announced intentions to resuscitate the Sir Ketumile Masire Scholarship Fund and Ohio University Library as a repository for information about Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.