Mokgweetsi Masisi

His Excellency Mokgweetsi Masisi
5th President of Botswana
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 April 2018
Vice President	Slumber Tsogwane
Preceded by	Ian Khama
Chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party
In office 1 April 2017 – 4 April 2018
Preceded by	Ian Khama
Succeeded by	Slumber Tsogwane
8th Vice President of Botswana
In office 12 November 2014 – 1 April 2018
President	Ian Khama
Preceded by	Ponatshego Kedikilwe
Succeeded by	Slumber Tsogwane
Member of Parliament for Moshupa / Manyana
In office 2009 – 1 April 2018
President	Ian Khama
Preceded by	Maitlhoko Mooka
Succeeded by	Karabo Gare
Personal details
Born	Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (1961-07-21) 21 July 1961 Moshupa, Bechuanaland (now Botswana)
Nationality	Motswana
Political party	Botswana Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Neo Masisi
Children	Atsile Masisi
Parents	Edison Setlhomo K. Masisi (father, deceased) Precious Masego Masisi (mother)
Residence	State House
Alma mater	Florida State University
Profession	Teacher[1]

Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi (born 21 July 1961) is the 5th and current President of Botswana. He has also served as Minister of Education since 2014, and previously he was Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration from 2011 to 2014. He was first elected to Parliament in 2009.^[2][3][4]

Life and career

Mokgweetsi Masisi is the son of Edison Masisi (1923-2003), the long-time MP for Moshupa and many-time cabinet member. The younger Masisi grew up in Gaborone, attending Thornhill Primary School and Maru A Pula School. In school he competed in soccer and tennis, 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, and was praised by the visiting Alan Paton for his performance. During the 1980s he starred in numerous theatrical productions, and also had roles in South African B-Movies.

During the 1980s Masisi became a high school social studies teacher for several years after graduating from the University of Botswana in 1984 in English and History. He then 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 Education, following which he was employed by UNICEF in Botswana.

Masisi unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to stand in Moshupa constituency in the 2004 general election However, he obtained the BDP nomination for the same seat prior to the 2009 general election and won the seat. 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. Masisi became Minister of Education and Skills Development in an acting capacity in April 2014; he was re-elected to his seat in Parliament in October 2014, and he was appointed as Minister of Education and Skills Development on 28 October 2014.

Masisi was appointed by President Ian Khama as Vice President of Botswana on 12 November 2014 while remaining in his post as Minister of Education. On April 1, 2018, he was sworn in as the 5th President of Botswana, he is now the current president of the Republic of Botswana.

President Khama appointed Masisi as the Chancellor of the University of Botswana on 5 July 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 22 June 2017.^[5]

References