Neo Masisi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Lady of Botswana | |
| In role 1 April 2018 –1 November 2024 | |
| President | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Preceded by | Barbara Mogae (2008) |
| Succeeded by | Kaone Boko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neo Jane Maswabi 15 November 1971 |
| Spouse | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Accountant |
Neo Jane Masisi [1] also known as Mma Atsile is the Former First Lady of Botswana and the wife of Former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. [2]
Neo Jane Masisi was born on November 1971 in Francistown,the eldest of six children of Baruki and Irene Maswabi. Both her parents were university graduates. She grew up and attended school in Gaborone,where her parents were working. [3] [4]
She married Mokgweetsi Masisi in 2002;they have a daughter named Atsile. [3]
Masisi is an accountant. She trained at the Accountancy Training Centre of the Debswana Diamond Company where she obtained membership of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. From 2001 to 2004 she continued her studies at De Montfort University in England,where she obtained an MBA degree. [3] [2] First Lady Neo Masisi was in 2019 conferred Fellow Chartered Management Accountant by CIMA President Mr Steven Swientozielskyj in Gaborone. [5] In 2004 she joined the United Nations,initially working at the UN Headquarters in New York City and then at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa. [6] She has also worked for the UN in the Central African Republic. [3]
In 2017 Masisi moved back to New York to work on Umoja,an enterprise resource planning software system to be used by United Nations entities worldwide. [7]
She left the UN in 2018 when her husband became President of Botswana. [3]
Her role as First Lady is largely ceremonial. As First Lady,Masisi has focused on issues that affect children and adolescents,and on women's empowerment. In 2018 she launched Eseng Mo Ngwaneng,a UNICEF campaign against sexual exploitation and abuse. [7] [8]
The President of the Republic of Botswana is the head of state and the head of government of Botswana,as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces,according to the Constitution of Botswana. Sir Seretse Khama was the prime minister from 1965 to 1966,however he later became president of Botswana,and as of 2024 there have been no prime ministers since.
The pula is the currency of Botswana. It has the ISO 4217 code BWP and is subdivided into 100 thebe. Pula literally means "rain" in Setswana,because rain is very scarce in Botswana—home to much of the Kalahari Desert—and therefore valuable and a blessing. The word also serves as the national motto of the country.
The University of Botswana (UB) was established in 1982,as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university currently has three campuses:one in the capital city Gaborone,one in Francistown,and another in Maun. The University of Botswana is divided into six faculties:Business,Education,Engineering,Humanities,Health Sciences,Science and Social Sciences and the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital. UB is ranked 1201–1500 in the world and 21st in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Ranking.
Unity Dow is a Motswana lawyer,author,human rights activist and Member of parliament for Kgatleng West since November 2024. She formerly served as a judge on the High Court of Botswana and in various Botswana government ministries. Born in the Bechuanaland Protectorate to a seamstress and a farmer,who insisted on their children obtaining an education,Dow grew up in a traditional rural village before modernisation. She earned a law degree in 1983 from the University of Botswana and Swaziland,though her studies were completed in Swaziland and University of Edinburgh,Scotland,as Botswana had no law school at the time. After her graduation,Dow opened the first all-woman law firm in Botswana and in 1997 became the first woman to be appointed as a judge to the country's High Court.
Professor Sheila Dinotshe Tlou is a Botswana nurse,specialist in HIV/AIDS and women's health,and nursing educator. She was Minister of Health from 2004 to 2008. Professor Tlou is a distinguished advocate for human resources for health issues. She is a recognized visionary leader and champion.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender,and queer (LGBTQ) people in Botswana face legal issues not experienced by non-LGBTQ citizens. Both female and male same-sex sexual acts have been legal in Botswana since 11 June 2019 after a unanimous ruling by the High Court of Botswana. Despite an appeal by the government,the ruling was upheld by the Botswana Court of Appeal on 29 November 2021.
The Botswana Ground Forces is the army of the country of Botswana,and the land component of the Botswana Defence Force.
The first lady of the Republic of Botswana is the wife of the president of Botswana. The current first lady is Kaone Boko,the wife of President Duma Boko.
Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is a Botswana politician and former President of Botswana,who served between 1 April 2018 to 1 November 2024. He served as the 8th Vice President of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018. He was a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency from 2009 to 2018.
Events in the year 2017 in Botswana.
Bogolo Joy Kenewendo is a Botswanan economist and politician. She is the former Cabinet Minister of Investment,Trade and Industry of Botswana. Kenewendo was dropped from cabinet in November 2019. Since then,she serves as the Managing Director of Kenewendo Advisory,based in Gaborone,Botswana. She leads Molaya Kgosi Women Leadership and Mentorship Program and the Board Chair of Molaya Kgosi Trust.
Slumber Tsogwane is a Motswana politician who is the Former Vice President of Botswana from April 2018 to November 2024. He is also former Member of Parliament for Boteti West. He was the longest serving Member of Parliament of the 12th Parliament of Botswana. He is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party.
Botswana held a general election in October 2019. Though it was more competitive than previous elections,it resulted in a victory for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and won an addition term for President Mokgweetsi Masisi. Botswana saw an escalation in the rivalry between Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama,with Khama leaving the Botswana Democratic Party to support the Botswana Patriotic Front and the Umbrella for Democratic Change. Following the BDP's victory,opposition leaders challenged the results of the election.
Masisi is a town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Botswana saw the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Lockdowns were implemented between March and May,and restrictions continued throughout the year. The previous year's general election was disputed by the opposition,and several cases were filed to overturn the results. Tensions rose with South Africa in 2020 as Botswana sought the prosecution of Bridgette Radebe. Concerns regarding wildlife conservation increased in 2020 as elephants began dying off in large numbers,as well as similar concerns about vultures. Armed conflicts with poachers continued throughout the year,including the killing of four men in November that caused protests in Namibia.
Thapelo Matsheka is a Motswana politician and economist who served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Development from November 2019 to April 2021. He was elected as the Member of the National Assembly for Lobatse in October 2019. He is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party. Matsheka is the former Managing Director of Fiducia Services.
Lynette Armstrong is a Botswana accountant and corporate executive,who was appointed as the acting chief executive officer of Debswana Diamond Company Limited,the largest diamond-mining company in the world,by value. She was appointed to that position in August 2019. Before that,from December 2015 until August 2019,Armstrong was the chief financial officer (CFO) at the same company. She relinquished he CEO/Managing Director role on 1 June 2022 when Andrew Maatla Motsomi became the new substantive CEO. Ms Armstrong resumed her role of CFO at Debswana.
Anna Maria Mokgethi is a Motswana politician serving as the Minister of Nationality,Immigration and Gender Affairs since November 2019. She is the Member of Parliament for Gaborone Bonnington North. Mokgethi is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party.
Botswana continued to address the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022,including the discovery of the COVID-19 variant Omicron BA.4 and BA.5,with COVID-19 restrictions being relaxed in October. Continued disputes took place regarding the Botswana–Namibia border,though an open border was established in September. The rivalry between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama escalated in 2022,accelerated by firearms charges against Khama and a warrant for his arrest. The government also saw controversy for its support of bills that would grant it additional espionage powers and regulate journalists.
Biggie Ganda Butale is a Motswana politician and the current leader of the Botswana Republican Party (BRP) since 14 November 2023. He previously served as the Member of Parliament for Tati West in the 11th Parliament from 2014 to 2019. Butale,the founding President of the Botswana Patriotic Front from July 2019 to July 2023,was ousted following a leadership dispute. Subsequently,he established the BRP on 14 November 2023.
