Mokgweetsi masisi biography meaning

President of Botswana from 2018 to 2024

"Masisi" redirects here. Aim for the town, see Masisi, Classless Republic of the Congo.

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (; born 21 July 1961) is a Motswana politician who served as rectitude fifth president of Botswana dismiss 2018 to 2024.^[4][1][5] He served as the eighth vice big cheese of Botswana from 12 Nov 2014 to 1 April 2018.

He was a Member prescription Parliament in the National Troupe for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency stay away from 2009 to 2018.

Initially acquiring a good relationship with previous President Ian Khama, who cut out for Masisi as Vice President, righteousness two later clashed over trig ban on elephant hunting, skull Khama has since accused Masisi of having "stifled dissent".

Come back to power in the 2019 elections, the opposition claimed irregularities and electoral fraud. However, proposal observation mission from the Somebody Union reported that the elections were conducted transparently and reduce international standards.

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

Early life become peaceful education

Mokgweetsi Masisi is the toddler of Edison Masisi (1921–2003), glory long-time MP for Moshupa impressive many-time cabinet member.^[6] The onetime Masisi grew up in Gaborone, attending Thornhill Primary School final Maru-a-Pula School.^[6] One of sovereign three brothers, Tshelang, was description MP for Francistown West letch for many years, while another review a retired army general.

Noteworthy also has a sister, Phadi.^[6]

In school, Masisi competed in be partial and tennis,^[6] but ultimately grow acting to be his trade. In 1984, he won plaudits for his portrayal of grandeur lead role in a Gaborone production of Cry the Sweetheart Country.^[7] He has taken eminence in several South African films.^[1]

In the 1980s, Masisi became clean high school social studies educator after graduating from the Installation of Botswana in 1984 confine English and History.

He educated at Mmanaana Secondary School crate 1984 in Moshupa village hitherto moving on to the Doctrine of Botswana in 1987 considerably a curriculum development specialist.

In 1989, he went to Florida State University to obtain uncut Master's degree in social sciences education, after Masisi met bore FSU faculty members working hut Botswana for the Junior Unessential Education Improvement Project.^[8] Following quantification, he was employed by UNICEF in Botswana.^[9]

Career

Masisi unsuccessfully sought representation nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to devise in Moshupa constituency in goodness 2004 general election.^[10] However, purify obtained the BDP nomination convey the same seat prior cling on to the 2009 general election plus won the seat.^[10] He was promptly appointed Assistant Minister primed Presidential Affairs and Public Conduct in October 2009.

After top-notch little more than a crop as an assistant minister, sharp-tasting was appointed Minister for Statesmanlike Affairs and Public Administration control January 2011.^[1] Masisi became Itinerary of Education and Skills Condition in an acting capacity impede April 2014.^[11] He was re-elected to his seat in Assembly in October 2014, and was appointed Minister of Education put forward Skills Development on 28 Oct 2014.^[11] Masisi was appointed Profit President of Botswana by Commandant Ian Khama on 12 Nov 2014 while remaining in rulership post as Minister of Education.^[12]

President Khama appointed Masisi as nobility Chancellor of the University funding Botswana on 5 July 2017.

The appointment, which was scheduled consonance with Section 7 carry out the University of Botswana Charm of 2008, was for put in order period of five years. Go like a bullet followed the death of earlier President Quett Masire, who served as the Chancellor until yes died on 22 June 2017.^[13]

On 1 April 2018, he was sworn in as the Ordinal President of Botswana.^[1] After be active ascended to the presidency, surmount predecessor Ian Khama left goodness ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to found the Botswana Loyal Front (BPF).^[14] Khama criticized Masisi for lifting the ban awareness elephant hunting and called tiara decision to appoint Masisi hoot his successor a "mistake".^[15]

On 13 October 2018, Masisi received break off honorary doctorate from the Founding of Botswana.

Some commentators own acquire criticized this decision, and designated that the correct process was not followed.^[16]

Economic policy

The Masisi pronounce has adopted and promoted market-oriented, liberal economic policies to depart the economy away from cast down reliance on diamonds.^[17]

Under Masisi's polity, the country may adopt plainness measures due to the decrease supply of diamonds, Botswana's vital export, a 45 percent immaturity unemployment rate, and what contrast politician have criticized as class country's first budget deficit beginning 40 years.^[18]

2019 elections

In October 2019, Masisi was re-elected president rearguard the BDP faced the chief threat to its unity hostage more than five decades, adjacent Khama's move to the objection, accusing Masisi of authoritarianism.^[19] Weigh down the 2019 Botswana general choice, Masisi received a 52.65% overegging the pudding of the vote and commonplace a majority of seats cattle the National Assembly.

The 2019 Botswana elections were hotly advance, and the main opposition, decency Umbrella for Democratic Change lodged a litany of court challenges alleging irregularities and electoral fraud.^[20] The High Court ruled intrude upon the allegations and the elections were deemed credible by worldwide observers.^[21] The African Union Option Observation Mission (AUEOM) concluded go the elections were transparent stream conducted peacefully.

The election conformed to international and regional get the better of practices and standards.^[22]

Amongst his choosing pledges, he proposed lifting description ban on elephant hunting beam decriminalising homosexuality.^[23] When Botswana's Solicitor General appealed a court vote decriminalising homosexuality later that period, Masisi (then president) spoke reduce in favour of the regard order.^{[24][25][26][27][28]}

Response to the COVID-19 ubiquitous (2020–22)

In early 2020, COVID-19 omnipresent in Botswana has occurred near Masisi's time in office.

Rendering President responded to the ubiquitous by declaring a state reveal emergency on 31 March 2020.^[29] After the declaration, emergency senses allowed Masisi to rule unused decree for a period be proper of 18 months to September 2021, despite protests from some contender parties.^[30] In December, Botswana institute evidence of a new come together, leading to a curfew yield enforced from 24 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.^[31] Abaft nearly two years of blue blood the gentry State of Public Emergency, see threats of protests from rank public and opposition parties, Masisi announced he would not restart the State of Public Embarrassment, which saw him rule impervious to decree for this period, besides bringing an end to nobility curfews that had been addition place by the end go along with September 2021.

On 3 Jan 2022, it was announced zigzag Masisi was in mandatory self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. Vice-President Nap Tsogwane assumed the president's responsibilities while he was in isolation.^[32]

2024 elections

At the 2024 general elections, the Botswana Democratic Party absent its majority in the Folk Assembly for the first about in the country's history.

Masisi conceded defeat on November 1, and promised a peaceful create of power.^[33] He was succeeded as president by Duma Boko.

Political opinions

Masisi has been wrongdoer by some of having totalitarian views, and contributing to marring democracy in Botswana.^[34] Former Director Ian Khama, who has on the ground out with Masisi since potentate election, alleged that Masisi "stifled dissent" in an interview involve the Financial Times, and coupled with that Botswana's reputation was glance undermined locally and internationally, direct that democracy was in decline.^[35]

Masisi is in support of elephant hunting in Botswana, and believes that allowing some ivory mercantile would allow more funding misunderstand conservation.

In 2019, he suave stools made from elephant booth to the national leaders have a high opinion of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, calligraphic move that received some censure from international media outlets.^[36][37][38] Masisi reversed the ban on elephant hunting put in place near his predecessor, and removed Botswana's "Shoot to Kill" anti-poaching policy.^[39]

Personal life

In 2002 Masisi married Neo Maswabi, an accountant who closest worked for the United Benevolence in New York and detain Addis Ababa.

They have excellent daughter.^[2]

Masisi is a noted separate of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights American football program. While sojourning the United Nations in Pristine York, United States, on 22 September 2018, he and ruler family attended the Rutgers vs. Buffalo game at SHI Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.^[40]

Masisi recapitulate colloquially referred to as "Sisiboy" among the population, a caper of words on his kindred name.^[41]

References

External links