By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

For one born in the backwaters of rural Botswana where aspiration at that time was limited to becoming a migrant labourer in nearby South Africa, it is noteworthy that Ketemule Masire rose to become one of Africa’s greatest personalities.

Not only did he rise to become the second president of one of Africa’s most stable countries, but he is also today one of the adjudicators of good governance on the continent.

Sir Masire, who rose to become the second president of Botswana today sits on the board of some reputable institutions among which is the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

It was on that platform that he spoke to Saturday Vanguard penultimate Monday, minutes after the Mo Ibrahim International Index for Governance in Africa was released in London.

The index provides an annual assessment of the quality of governance in African countries and is reputed as the most comprehensive collection of data on African governance. The 2016 IIAG was, however, a milestone being the ten years since the commencement of the index.

It was as such not a surprise that the first question thrown to Sir Masire was on his perception of how the continent has progressed since the commencement of the index in 2006.

“On the whole it has been very useful, Africa as a whole has done well, stabilised and made slight improvements,” he admitted even though he admitted that there are few areas Africa has gone back.