Sunday, December 3, 2023

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"

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