Mokgweetsi Masisi

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (born 21 July 1961) is the fifth and current President of Botswana, serving since 2018.[4][1][5] He served as the 8th Vice President of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018.[6] He was a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency from 2009 to 2018.

His Excellency
Mokgweetsi Masisi
Masisi in 2023
5th President of Botswana
Assumed office
1 April 2018
Vice PresidentSlumber Tsogwane
Preceded byIan Khama
Chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party
In office
1 April 2017 – 4 April 2018
Preceded byIan Khama
Succeeded bySlumber Tsogwane
8th Vice President of Botswana
In office
12 November 2014 – 1 April 2018
PresidentIan Khama
Preceded byPonatshego Kedikilwe
Succeeded bySlumber Tsogwane
Member of Parliament for
Moshupa / Manyana
In office
2009 – 1 April 2018
PresidentIan Khama
Preceded byMaitlhoko Mooka
Succeeded byKarabo Gare
Personal details
Born
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi

(1961-07-21) 21 July 1961[1]
Moshupa, Bechuanaland
(now Botswana)
NationalityBotswana
Political partyBotswana Democratic Party
Spouse
​
(m. 2002)​
Children1[2]
ResidenceBotswana State House
Alma materUniversity of Botswana
Florida State University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • teacher
  • author
ProfessionTeacher[3]
NicknameSisiboy

Initially having a good relationship with former President Ian Khama, who appointed Masisi as Vice President, the two later clashed over a ban on elephant hunting, and Khama has since accused Masisi of having "stifled dissent". Coming to power in the 2019 elections, the opposition claimed irregularities and electoral fraud, however an observation mission from the African Union reported that the elections were conducted transparently and met international standards.

His government oversaw response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the pandemic, Masisi ruled by decree from March 2020 to September 2021, despite protests from the public and the opposition party.

Early life and education

Mokgweetsi Masisi is the son of Edison Masisi (1921–2003), the long-time MP for Moshupa and many-time cabinet member.[7] The younger Masisi grew up in Gaborone, attending Thornhill Primary School and Maru A Pula School.[7] One of his three brothers, Tshelang, was the MP for Francistown West for many years, while another is a retired army general. He also has a sister, Phadi.[7]

In school, Masisi competed in soccer and tennis,[7] but ultimately found acting to be his calling. In 1984, he won acclaim for his portrayal of the lead role in a Gaborone production of Cry the Beloved Country.[8] He has taken part in several South African films.[1]

In the 1980s, Masisi became a high school social studies teacher after graduating from the University of Botswana in 1984 in English and History. He taught at Mmanaana Secondary School in 1984 in Moshupa village before moving on to the University of Botswana in 1987 as a curriculum development specialist.

In 1989, he went to Florida State University to obtain a Master's degree in social sciences education, after Masisi met some FSU faculty members working in Botswana for the Junior Secondary Education Improvement Project.[9] Following graduation, he was employed by UNICEF in Botswana.[10]

Career

Masisi unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to stand in Moshupa constituency in the 2004 general election.[11] However, he obtained the BDP nomination for the same seat prior to the 2009 general election and won the seat.[11] He was promptly appointed as Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration in October 2009. After a little more than a year as an assistant minister, he was appointed as Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration in January 2011.[1] Masisi became Minister of Education and Skills Development in an acting capacity in April 2014.[12] He was re-elected to his seat in Parliament in October 2014, and was appointed as Minister of Education and Skills Development on 28 October 2014.[12] Masisi was appointed as Vice President of Botswana by President Ian Khama on 12 November 2014 while remaining in his post as Minister of Education.[13]

President Khama appointed Masisi as the Chancellor of the University of Botswana on July 5, 2017. The appointment, which was in consonance with Section 7 of the University of Botswana Act of 2008, was for a period of five years. It followed the death of former President Quett Masire, who served as the Chancellor until he died on June 22, 2017.[14]

On April 1, 2018, he was sworn in as the 5th President of Botswana.[1] After he ascended to the presidency, his predecessor Ian Khama left the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to found the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). Khama criticized Masisi for lifting the ban on elephant hunting and called his decision to appoint Masisi as his successor a "mistake".[15]

On October 13, 2018, Masisi received an honorary doctorate from the University of Botswana. Some commentators have criticized this decision, and claimed that the correct process was not followed.[16]

2019 elections

In October 2019, Masisi was re-elected president after the BDP faced the biggest threat to its unity in more than five decades, following Khama's move to the opposition, accusing Masisi of authoritarianism.[17] In the 2019 Botswana general election, Masisi received a 52.65% majority of the vote and received a majority of seats in the National Assembly. The 2019 Botswana elections were hotly contested, and the main opposition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change lodged a litany of court challenges alleging irregularities and electoral fraud.[18] The High Court ruled against the allegations and the elections were deemed credible by international observers. While the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) concluded that the elections were transparent and conducted peacefully. The election conformed to international and regional best practices and standards.[19]

Amongst his election pledges, he proposed lifting the ban on elephant hunting and decriminalising homosexuality.[20] When Botswana's Attorney General appealed a court decision decriminalising homosexuality later that year, Masisi (then president) spoke out in favour of the court order.[21][22][23][24][25]

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-22)

In early 2020, COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana has occurred during Masisi's time in office. The President responded to the pandemic by declaring a state of emergency on March 31, 2020.[26] After the declaration, emergency powers allowed Masisi to rule by decree for a period of 18 months to September 2021, despite protests from some opposition parties.[27] In December, Botswana found evidence of a new strain, leading to a curfew being enforced from December 24, 2020 to January 3, 2021.[28] After nearly two years of the State of Public Emergency, and threats of protests from the public and opposition parties, Masisi announced he would not renew the State of Public Emergency, which saw him rule by decree for this period, also bringing an end to the curfews that had been in place by the end of September 2021.

On 3 January 2022, it was announced that Masisi was in mandatory self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane would assume the president's responsibilities while Masisi was in isolation.[29]

Political opinions

Masisi has been accused by some of having authoritarian views, and contributing to undermining democracy in Botswana.[30] Former President Ian Khama, who has fallen out with Masisi since his election, alleged that Masisi "stifled dissent" in an interview with the Financial Times, and added that Botswana's reputation was being undermined locally and internationally, and that democracy was in decline.[31]

Masisi is in support of elephant hunting in Botswana, and believes that allowing some ivory trading would allow more funding for conservation. In 2019, he presented stools made from elephant feet to the national leaders of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, a move that received some criticism from international media outlets.[32][33][34] Masisi reversed the ban on elephant hunting put in place by his predecessor, and removed Botswana's "Shoot to Kill" anti-poaching policy.[35]

Personal life
President Masisi (right) poses with Robert L. Barchi, President of Rutgers University

In 2002 Masisi married Neo Maswabi, an accountant who later worked for the United Nations in New York and in Addis Ababa. They have a daughter.[2]

Masisi is a noted fan of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football program. While visiting the United Nations on 22 September 2018, he and his family attended the Rutgers vs. Buffalo game at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.[36]

Masisi is colloquially referred to as "Sisiboy" among the population, a play of words on his family name.[37]

References
  1. "Botswana: Mokgweetsi Masisi takes over presidency amid opposition resurgence". Deutsche Welle. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  2. "Staff corner - Profile" (PDF). UN Staff Voice. No. 6. June 2018. pp. 36–39. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  3. "Profile of His Honour Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, Vice President of The Republic of Botswana". Government of Botswana. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. Guardian, INK Centre for Investigative Journalism, Botswana (3 April 2018). "Who is Botswana's new President Mokgweetsi Masisi?". The M&G Online. Retrieved 14 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Botswana inaugurates new president Masisi in smooth handover". France 24. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  6. "Citation Needed", Retcon Game, University Press of Mississippi, 3 April 2017, doi:10.14325/mississippi/9781496811325.003.0047, ISBN 9781496811325, retrieved 23 May 2022
  7. "Who is Botswana's new President Mokgweetsi Masisi?". The Mail & Guardian. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  8. "The Big Interview: Mokgweetsi Masisi – President of Botswana". newafricanmagazine.com. August 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. "Florida State welcomes president of Botswana for official visit". Florida State University News. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. "Botswana : investiture du nouveau président". BBC News Afrique (in French). 1 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  11. "Weekend Post :: The making of a president: HH Mokgweetsi Masisi". weekendpost.co.bw. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  12. "Profile: Botswana's new president Mokgweetsi Masisi - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  13. "Weekend Post :: Bolope (bootlicking) has paid for Masisi!". www.weekendpost.co.bw. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  14. Online Editor (6 July 2017). "Vice President Masisi appointed UB Chancellor". University of Botswana. Retrieved 8 July 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. "Botswana's former president Ian Khama quits ruling party". IOL. Agence France-Presse. 25 May 2019.
  16. Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (12 October 2018). "Issues raised about Masisi's honorary doctorate". Mmegi. Gaborone.
  17. "President Mokgweetsi Masisi holds on to power in Botswana poll". Financial Times. London. 25 October 2019.
  18. "Botswana opposition challenges election result in court". Reuters. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  19. "African Union Election Observation Mission To The 23 October 2019 General Elections In The Republic Of Botswana" (PDF). au.int. African Union. November 2019. p. 22. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  20. Chutel, Chutel (23 October 2019). "Botswana Election Won by President, Despite Rift with Predecessor". New York Times.
  21. Katlego K Kolanyane-Kesupile (18 October 2021). "Botswana attorney general seeks to recriminalize homosexuality". Washington Blade. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  22. "Botswana's High Court rejects laws criminalising homosexuality". Al Jazeera. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  23. Mpho Keleboge (7 July 2019). "Botswana appeals landmark pro gay High Court ruling". Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  24. "Botswana seeks to overturn court ruling allowing gay sex". Reuters. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  25. Thobo Motlhoka (19 October 2021). "Pilane says a man's home is not his castle". Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  26. "CONSTITUTION OF BOTSWANA: SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION | Subsidiary Legislation". botswanalaws.com.
  27. "Botswana Parliament votes to extend covid state of emergency to March 2021". Your Botswana. Gaborone. 19 January 2021.
  28. "Masisi imposes nationwide curfew". Mmegi. 30 September 2021.
  29. "Botswana's president in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19". The Star. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  30. Basimanebotlhe, Tsaone (20 February 2020). "Botswana democracy under siege". Mmegi. Gaborone.
  31. "Botswana's ex-president hits out at successor ahead of election". Financial Times. London.
  32. "Botswana gives leaders stools made from elephant feet". BBC. 7 May 2019.
  33. Flanagan, Jane (8 May 2019). "Ivory delegates given elephant foot stools". The Times. London.
  34. "Botswana Gifts African Leaders Stools Made of Elephant Feet to Mark Resistance to Ivory Trade Ban". News18. India. 8 May 2019.
  35. O'Grady, Siobhán (23 May 2019). "Botswana overturns ban on elephant hunting". The Washington Post.
  36. "President of Botswana Visits Rutgers | Rutgers". global.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  37. Morton, Barry. "How Masisi outsmarted Khama to take the reins in Botswana". The Conversation. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
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