23 June, 2017
The Board of Trustees of the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation (SKMF) said in a statement that Masire had died peacefully, surrounded by his family.
He further extolled President Masire's contribution to Botswana's liberation movement and its subsequent Independence in 1966.
Botswana, the world's largest diamond producer and a haven for luxury safari tourism, has been one of the world's fastest growing economies since the 1970s and has remained politically stable on a continent plagued by violence and corruption.
According to reports, Masire died on Thursday night after he was hospitalised last weekend in a critical condition.
"While earnestly praying for the repose of the soul of President Masire, I add that God Almighty should give the family, your Government and people of Botswana the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss".
In a statement, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said it was saddened by the passing of Masire.
Masire led Botswana following president Seretse Khama's death in 1980 until voluntarily stepping down 1998, having overseen a period of unprecedented economic growth.
Ketumile Masire was born on July 23, 1925 in Kanye, Botswana.
He was also the chairman of the International Panel of Eminent Personalities investigating the circumstances of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, from 1998 to 2000.
In his honour, the Nelson Mandela Foundation will continue to work with the Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation through the "Caring4Girls" Initiative in Botswana, and Mandela Day Libraries in an effort to deepen work he was passionate about to further youth development.
