MASIRE

The memoir of Sir Ketumile Masire may be the best handbook available on how one builds a democratic nation and an economy that benefits vast majority of its citizens.

In 1966, Botswana's economic and geopolitical situation in southern Africa was desperate.

When its leaders asked for independence from Great Britain, they were told they were "either brave or very foolish" to do so.

Forty years later Botswana has achieved what most thought was impossible: a vibrant multi-party and non-racial democracy, with one of the world's fastest rates of economic growth and very low levels of corruption.

Sir Ketumile was at the centre of this success, starting in 1961 with his election to the first Legislative Council.

In 1962, he joined the late Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana's first President, in founding the Botswana Democratic Party and leading it to victory in four national elections.

As Minister of Finance and Development Planning, he was the chief architect and the general manager of Botswana's economic success.Succeeding Sir Seretse as President in 1980, he led the Party to three more election victories before his retirement in 1998, when he handed over to his constitutional successor, Festus Mogae.

A self-described "reluctant politician" his first love has always been farming.

He brought the common sense and experience of farming in a drought-prone country to bear on economic and social policy choices and in building the political system.

He gives a frank account of how and why he and his colleagues made their choices, a candid admission of several failures, and comments on a number of leading political personalities.