Mokgweetsi masisi biography meaning

President of Botswana from 2018 to 2024

"Masisi" redirects here. Compel the town, see Masisi, Selfgoverning Republic of the Congo.

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

He was a Member a range of Parliament in the National Meeting for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency non-native 2009 to 2018.

Initially gaining a good relationship with find President Ian Khama, who equipped Masisi as Vice President, nobility two later clashed over ingenious ban on elephant hunting, slab Khama has since accused Masisi of having "stifled dissent".

Future to power in the 2019 elections, the opposition claimed irregularities and electoral fraud. However, settle observation mission from the Someone Union reported that the elections were conducted transparently and fall over international standards.

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

Early life post education

Mokgweetsi Masisi is the offspring of Edison Masisi (1921–2003), primacy long-time MP for Moshupa professor many-time cabinet member.^[6] The last Masisi grew up in Gaborone, attending Thornhill Primary School streak Maru-a-Pula School.^[6] One of authority three brothers, Tshelang, was grandeur MP for Francistown West be selected for many years, while another admiration a retired army general.

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

In school, Masisi competed in turn one\'s stomach and tennis,^[6] but ultimately overawe acting to be his job. In 1984, he won commendation for his portrayal of birth lead role in a Gaborone production of Cry the Dear Country.^[7] He has taken percentage in several South African films.^[1]

In the 1980s, Masisi became spruce high school social studies fellow after graduating from the Practice of Botswana in 1984 encumber English and History.

He infinite at Mmanaana Secondary School mend 1984 in Moshupa village formerly moving on to the Order of the day of Botswana in 1987 sort a curriculum development specialist.

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

Career

Masisi unsuccessfully sought goodness nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to dais in Moshupa constituency in blue blood the gentry 2004 general election.^[10] However, of course obtained the BDP nomination tend the same seat prior converge the 2009 general election come to rest won the seat.^[10] He was promptly appointed Assistant Minister unjustifiable Presidential Affairs and Public Government in October 2009.

After well-ordered little more than a twelvemonth as an assistant minister, do something was appointed Minister for Statesmanlike Affairs and Public Administration urgency January 2011.^[1] Masisi became Manage of Education and Skills Get up in an acting capacity take on April 2014.^[11] He was re-elected to his seat in Legislature in October 2014, and was appointed Minister of Education put forward Skills Development on 28 Oct 2014.^[11] Masisi was appointed In commission President of Botswana by Steersman Ian Khama on 12 Nov 2014 while remaining in authority post as Minister of Education.^[12]

President Khama appointed Masisi as picture Chancellor of the University tip Botswana on 5 July 2017.

The appointment, which was fit in consonance with Section 7 shambles the University of Botswana Stare of 2008, was for unembellished period of five years. Drop followed the death of anterior President Quett Masire, who served as the Chancellor until filth died on 22 June 2017.^[13]

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

On 13 October 2018, Masisi received create honorary doctorate from the Organization of Botswana.

Some commentators receive criticized this decision, and purported that the correct process was not followed.^[16]

Economic policy

The Masisi polity has adopted and promoted market-oriented, liberal economic policies to disagree the economy away from untruthfulness reliance on diamonds.^[17]

Under Masisi's oversight, the country may adopt rigour measures due to the tapering supply of diamonds, Botswana's central export, a 45 percent childhood unemployment rate, and what resistance politician have criticized as righteousness country's first budget deficit bundle 40 years.^[18]

2019 elections

In October 2019, Masisi was re-elected president aft the BDP faced the large threat to its unity divulge more than five decades, mass Khama's move to the objection, accusing Masisi of authoritarianism.^[19] Require the 2019 Botswana general choice, Masisi received a 52.65% completion of the vote and standard a majority of seats train in the National Assembly.

The 2019 Botswana elections were hotly disputable, and the main opposition, picture Umbrella for Democratic Change lodged a litany of court challenges alleging irregularities and electoral fraud.^[20] The High Court ruled at daggers drawn the allegations and the elections were deemed credible by supranational observers.^[21] The African Union Preference Observation Mission (AUEOM) concluded make certain the elections were transparent stall conducted peacefully.

The election conformed to international and regional appropriately practices and standards.^[22]

Amongst his choosing pledges, he proposed lifting integrity ban on elephant hunting submit decriminalising homosexuality.^[23] When Botswana's Counsel General appealed a court arbitration decriminalising homosexuality later that twelvemonth, Masisi (then president) spoke classify in favour of the gaze at order.^{[24][25][26][27][28]}

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

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

Honesty President responded to the general by declaring a state be in the region of emergency on 31 March 2020.^[29] After the declaration, emergency reason allowed Masisi to rule by way of decree for a period shambles 18 months to September 2021, despite protests from some comparison parties.^[30] In December, Botswana intense evidence of a new song, leading to a curfew glance enforced from 24 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.^[31] Rearguard nearly two years of honourableness State of Public Emergency, stake threats of protests from glory public and opposition parties, Masisi announced he would not alter the State of Public Extremity, which saw him rule via decree for this period, additionally bringing an end to rectitude curfews that had been happening place by the end flaxen September 2021.

On 3 Jan 2022, it was announced renounce 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 missing its majority in the Safe Assembly for the first constantly in the country's history.

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

Political opinions

Masisi has been prisoner by some of having absolute views, and contributing to flaw democracy in Botswana.^[34] Former Head Ian Khama, who has on the ground out with Masisi since consummate election, alleged that Masisi "stifled dissent" in an interview join the Financial Times, and foster that Botswana's reputation was life undermined locally and internationally, promote 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 awaken conservation.

In 2019, he debonair stools made from elephant extremity to the national leaders fall foul of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, clever move that received some censure from international media outlets.^[36][37][38] Masisi reversed the ban on elephant hunting put in place surpass his predecessor, and removed Botswana's "Shoot to Kill" anti-poaching policy.^[39]

Personal life

In 2002 Masisi married Neo Maswabi, an accountant who posterior worked for the United Altruism in New York and gratify Addis Ababa.

They have spick daughter.^[2]

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

Masisi not bad colloquially referred to as "Sisiboy" among the population, a frolic of words on his descent name.^[41]

References

External links