The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo in Gold

His Excellency Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire (Posthumous) (Botswana) Awarded for:

His exceptional contribution to the struggle for peace and liberation in South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda and the Southern African region. He worked tirelessly in ensuring that Africans are liberated from oppression and colonial rule.

Profile of His Excellency Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire

His Excellency Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire was a Pan-Africanist par excellence who contributed to the liberation of many African countries from the bondages of colonialism and apartheid.

Since his retirement in 1998, he was involved in numerous diplomatic and peace-building initiatives to resolve conflicts across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Swaziland.

These endeavours cemented his invaluable role as a peace broker, which he continued to promote through the peace and good governance programme at the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation. As a founding member of the Global Leadership Foundation, he was also a champion of democratic leadership, prevention and resolution of conflicts through mediation, and a fervent promoter of good governance through democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law. Masire was a man of the people; a servant leader always available to do duty for a better Africa, even in his old age.

Masire created a passage for freedom fighters, and not only for South Africans, but also for those in the region. Most leaders from countries around the region went to exile through Botswana. He ensured that they were taken care of and were safe. Former President Mandela once said about Masire that he was a natural and capable leader of the region’s collective efforts towards growth and development, within the framework of Southern African Development Community.

His leadership in the region’s efforts to promote peace and stability on our sub-continent and further afield was most valued. He led various diplomatic initiatives in Africa, including chairing a panel that investigated the 1994 Rwanda genocide, and coordinating the Inter-Congolese National Dialogue.

In his honour, the Nelson Mandela Foundation continues to work with the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation through the ‘Caring4Girls’ initiative in Botswana, and Mandela Day Libraries in an effort to deepen work he was passionate about to further youth development.