‘Im in a hurry’ – Masisi

• ‘In the 10 years preceding my term we did not meet anybody. There has been a thirst that I am quenching ‘
• ‘We would have never secured quality livestock breeds, engaged at the highest level, met moneyed investors’
• Masisi faces heavy criticism of HB diamond deal

STAFF WRITERS

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Clearly unapologetic about frequency of his trips around the world, President Mokgweetsi Masisi answers critics in a brief yet firm “it is not a joyride”, before hurriedly adding a qualifier to the effect that “the political term of a President is very short, and therefore there is no time to waste”.

Masisi returned to Botswana on Wednesday after spending several weeks on a whirlwind travel to  Australia, Bahamas, Cuba, New York (UN), Kenya, Germany. Justifying the lengthy absence, Masisi said he is reconnecting Botswana to the world after a long absence from critical platforms during the tenure of his predecessor, Ian Khama. He said if it was not for his trips abroad ‘we (Botswana) would have never secured quality livestock breeds, engaged at the highest level, met moneyed investors to invite them to come and establish businesses in the country’.

“In the 10 years preceding my term we did not meet anybody. There has been a thirst that I am quenching,” he quipped, clearly referring to Khama’s tenure. During that time, when he was still Vice President, Masisi said Botswana was missing in action as Khama used to send him to international meetings where he would be sidelined as he was not a Head of State.