Sunday, December 3, 2023


Illustrious moment with the Botswana 2024 WAFCON QUALIFIERS TEAM. A splendid match that ended with a 1 - 1 draw but revealed the prowess and talents of the Botswana national team. The 29th November 2023 match was a Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. The Kenyan Team was equally dazzling with speed and unrelenting energies to score but the defensive strategy of the Botswana Team thwarted many an attempt. 
With the Botswana 2024 WAFCON Team technical and management group in Nairobi Kenya. 

 

Diplomacy gives me East Africa

 

Presenting my Letters of Credence to President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda. That was in the city of Kigali
When your job is meeting people, meetings, conferences, accepting working and social dinners, appearing in public speaking events...you have to take care of the real doer: the body.
After touring the residence of the former and assassinated Leader of Rwanda, an event that sparked genocidal recriminations, and viewing remains of the presidential jet aircraft, my wife Rassie and I posed under this huge fig tree... washing away the strongest sentiments we've ever felt about the beastly shortcomings of people...
Striding but wrapped in the anxieties of every momentous occasion, I walk past the Guard towards the tall and lanky frame of President Kagame. 
Just as a little break, I am meeting the CEO of Nations Group Kenya, to discuss their hosting of the 2023 Kusi Ideas Festival in Gaborone Botswana on 7th to 8th December, 2023.
With the Burundi High Commissioner in her office. My diplomatic constituency covered Kenya, where I was based, Burundi, South Sudan, The Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.
MY VERY FIRST EVER PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO THE CHIRPY AND ARTICULATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HIS EXCELLENCY. HONOURABLE, DR. WILLIAM SAMOEA RUTO
PRESENTATION MY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT RUTO, THAT ENTAILED GREETINGS AND OTHER COMPLIMENTS FROM MY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA HIS EXCELLENCY DR MOKGWEETSI ERIC KEABETSWE MASISI
A HAND SHAKE FROM PRESIDENT H.E HON DR RUTO AND A MESSAGE FROM HIM TO MY PRESIDENT BACK HOME...CONDOLENCES OVER THE LATTER'S PASSING OF HIS MOTHER
THE TEAM OF DIPLOMATS THAT PRESENTED ON 7TH JUNE, 2023
LOOKING CALM BUT OVERWHELMED BY THE MOMENT
A COURTESY CALL LED BY THE YOUNG MOLTSWANA I HOLD IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM, PROFESSOR MOSEPELE MOSEPELE, ON MY RIGHT. THEY WERE IN NAIROBI FOR A MEETING OF SCIENTISTS. PROFESSOR MOSEPELE AND I SERVED TOGETHER IN THE COVID-19 NATIONAL TASK FORCE CHAIRED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT. THAT ASSIGNMENT BONDED US TO THE SAME CAUSE OF SAVING LIVES AND ASSISTING OUR CHIEF CLIENT, THE PRESIDENT, TO NAVIGAYE THE VICISSITUDES OF THE PANDEMIC IN THE AMAZINGLY SUCCESSFUL WAY THAT HE DID.
RWANDA.... I LOVE THE SERENITY OF ITS PEOPLE
Break the fat, enhance work output; never say you don't have time
Preparing for the Kusi Ideas Festival 2023
The love of my life, Rassie.... we loved that fig tree, and because of the roots we stepped on, a colleague named the picture, "LOVE ON THE ROOTS"

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

HELLO FOLKS! 

I WILL BE RETURNING TO MY BLOG VERY SOON WITH AN UPDATE.

Suffices to say that after a 7 year assignment as Head of Communications at Bank of Botswana till 31st December 2018, I joined Office of the President on April 9, 2019, as Permanent Secretary, Government Communications. My contract ends 9th April, 2022, when I will be decommissioning myself into serious writing and 'potluck' farming. No, I am not a farmer; I just love growing plants... and raising chickens for the pot. Yes, I will put surplus to profitable use. 

I have a couple of finished manuscripts to publish as soon as I can 'inhale and exhale'. 3 manuscripts actually and some other creative works I work on for leisure.

Yes, I am still writing. I just want my next publications to be very serious writing, whether fiction or true narrative.

SEE YOU SOON! AND YES, I NEED TO SPRUCE UP MY BLOG. 



Thursday, January 24, 2019

NOTE ABOUT ADVERTISING

Kindly note that I am not responsible for the advertising content in this blog. Advertising is procured in the conventional manner of assuming that regulation thereof rests with appropriate authorities-  Andrew O Sesinyi

2019 GREETINGS FROM ANDREW ONALENNA SESINYI


GREETINGS FRIENDS!

I am happy to confirm that on December 31, 2018, I ceased being an employee of my country's reserve bank, Bank of Botswana- thus gaining a freedom to speak, write, publish and engage in public fora without compromising the reticent culture of the central banking culture.
I have since then, energetically resumed my writing, noticing with relief that the restrained years during which I did not aim to publish even though I continued writing, had brought about a growth in my writing perceptions and discernment. 
I am engaged in a short story compilation which has already attracted the attention of a publisher; I have completed a sequel to my previous novel, "Love On The Rocks," and even though in earlier considerations, a publisher was loathe to risk the business repercussions of being associated with the politically charged sequel, it has gained wonderful review as a manuscript. It is entitled "Love On The Rocks Too". Times have changed and I am looking forward to fresh horizons for the publication of the sequel.
Furthermore, I am reviewing my completed manuscript, "Corridors of Power," which is in memoir format, to ensure that it is updated and carries the tone of contemporary events and affairs. 
All these plus more, as my reserved energies for the passion of writing are unlocked.

See you in an uplifting 2019!

Andrew Onalenna Sesinyi
January 24, 2019

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

MY FIRST INTIMATE CONTACT WITH QUETT MASIRE



EXTRACT FROM MY NOT YET PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT “CORRIDORS OF POWER”

My first intimate contact with Sir Ketumile Masire, the man who was to become President of Botswana for 19 years, was in 1980 when as Vice President he abruptly cut his trip to the People’s Republic of China due to the terminal illness of his predecessor Sir Seretse Khama. I was a senior journalist then with the Government Department of Information and Broadcasting working for Radio Botswana and the Daily News. Sir Seretse Khama had just returned from London where he had gone for treatment but was returned by his doctors so that he "could die peacefully among his people." The charismatic and immensely popular founder President of the former British colony was dying of cancer.
I first interviewed Vice President Masire when he was known then by his unique but popular first name of Quett, before he changed his title to Sir Ketumile Masire later when he was bestowed the British Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. Quett, as he was popularly known then, was regarded nationally as the moneyman, being the Minister of Finance and Development Planning.  The man's trademark was his high-pitched laughter that echoed around the corridors of every building he occupied and announced him at every occasion. The idiosyncrasy was to become part of his personality and eventually a cherished sound among his supporters and compatriots.
The intention of the interview was to get answers to the burning questions in the minds of every concerned citizen of Botswana-, which was virtually everyone. Now that the nation of this fledgling democracy, was about to lose the only president that they had known, what was going to happen to the leadership of the country? Would Vice President Masire take over automatically? It was common knowledge then that the rather reticent Quett Masire had not shown any ambitions to ascend to the presidency of the country. Masire was believed to be reluctant to become captain of this peaceful but politically and economically fragile southern African state. We posed the questions to Quett Masire. As was always the case, we quickly realized that what Quett Masire lacked in physical stature, he made up for in his remarkable gift of repartee. Admittedly, at first contact before and during his presidency, and even afterwards, one did not have to be Quett Masire’s puppet to discern his obvious superior intellect. His mastery of both the English language and the national language, Setswana, made him a versatile orator and slippery maestro of intellectual gymnastics.
Quett Masire ensured that the bulk of the interview concentrated on his trip to China. The Chinese culture and their work ethic, in particular, had visibly impressed him. I was with colleagues Moreri Gabakgore and Monty Letshwiti when he told us:-

"If I had my way, I would take the entire nation of Botswana to China for them to see how hard working the Chinese are. They have ploughed ever where, even on mountain tops……."

[The manuscript awaits publication]