Havana — President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has applauded the government and the people of Cuba for their generosity and sacrifice in addressing development challenges in Africa.
He expressed gratitude when placing a wreath at the bust of Botswana's founding President, the late Sir Seretse Khama at the African Heroes Park in Havana, Cuba on Saturday.
President Masisi thanked the government and the people of Cuba for remembering, acknowledging and honouring Africa's past leaders and founding fathers.
The late Sir Seretse Khama's bust was mounted and unveiled at the park in June 2007.
President Masisi said Cuba had over the years been supportive of Africa's endeavour to grow, noting that it was imperative to wish them success in dealing with all the circumstances at hand.
He said Cuba and Botswana were strong bilateral partners, evidenced by the numbers of Batswana students studying in Cuba, primarily in the field of medicine which the country was well known for globally.
Botswana, he said, had also benefited immensely from Cuba in sport development and the education sector.
On the establishment of the African Heroes Park, Mr Fernardo Llort, who is the President of the Cuban Institute Friendship with the People said the Cuban authorities had dedicated the park to preserve the history and honour of iconic leaders of Africa.
Mr Llort said Africa had been a mutual partner to Cuba by supporting its liberation struggle, adding that the first bust at the park was mounted in September 2000 and the park was for the preservation of the legacy of the African continent for it to be enjoyed by and benefit future generation.
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As such, he said putting up Sir Seretse Khama's bust was to pay tribute to another son of the African soil, who was dedicated to serving his people and improving the country's relations with other nations.
He described the late Sir Seretse Khama as a profound, steadfast, loyal, moral and an enormous political leader. Mr Llort said Botswana's founding president possessed political intelligence.
"We feel the solidarity of the people of Botswana as it is expressed by our bilateral relations," he said.
Mr Llort said some Batswana had studied and worked in Cuba because of the working relations between the two nations.
"I would like to thank your government and the people of Botswana. There is no doubt that we relate well and have strong friendship," he said.
The Africa Heroes Park features the memories of, among others, past African leaders in the likes of Patrice Lumbumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela from South Africa, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Augustino Neto of Mozambique, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya as well as Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
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