By Ras Mubarak*
As Botswana prepares to mark its 59th Independence Anniversary on September 30, 2025, the nation is already awash in jubilation. The streets may be quiet, with Batswana retreating to their villages to celebrate with kith and kin, but the air hums with pride and possibility.
This euphoria stems not only from the upcoming national milestone but also from a historic triumph that has reverberated across the continent. Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay team (Lee Bhekempilo, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi) secured Africa’s first-ever gold medal in this event at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
This victory is no small feat. For decades, the United States, with its population of 350 million, has dominated the men’s 4x400m relay, clinching the last ten editions of the championship.
Yet, from “small Botswana” – a nation of just 2.4 million people — emerged a team of gallant runners who defied the odds. They outran not only the Americans but also formidable competitors like neighboring South Africa, with its 63 million citizens.
In a David-and-Goliath moment, these athletes proved that neither the size of one’s country nor the location of one’s address can stand in the way of greatness. Their triumph is a beacon of hope, a testament to African resilience, and a clarion call for unity across our diverse continent.
The Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign, which I am honored to lead, arrived in Botswana on Saturday, September 28, 2025, as the 11th stop on our 163-day, 40,000-kilometer road journey across 39 African nations.
Endorsed by several African governments, our mission is to promote intra-African tourism, advocate for a visa-free policy for all African nationals, and foster a united Africa where borders do not divide but connect us.
From Togo to Namibia, we have witnessed the power of shared dreams and collective action, engaging government officials, diplomats, the media, and communities in a vision aligned with Agenda 2063.
In Botswana, we found a nation in celebration, not only of its sporting heroes but also of its enduring spirit. President Duma Boko, in a gesture of national pride, declared a paid day off to honour the relay team’s historic victory, setting the stage for the Independence Day festivities.
Despite the long holiday, with many Botswanans away in their villages, the Government of Botswana has exemplified Pan-African solidarity by arranging for the Honourable Minister for Presidential Affairs, Moeti Mohwasa—a very senior cabinet minister—to receive our delegation.
We are deeply grateful for this warm welcome and look forward to a productive meeting to discuss how Botswana’s leadership in sustainable tourism and regional integration can amplify our campaign’s goals.
Botswana’s story—its rich cultural heritage, its stewardship of natural wonders like the Okavango Delta, and now its athletic prowess—mirrors the aspirations of our campaign. Just as the relay team showed that small nations can achieve monumental victories, we believe that a united Africa, free of visa barriers, can unlock boundless opportunities for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.
Botswana, with its forward-thinking governance and commitment to African unity, is poised to lead this charge.
As we celebrate Botswana’s independence and its recent triumphs, let us also celebrate the broader African spirit—one that dares to dream, competes without fear, and embraces unity as a source of strength.
The Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign calls on all Africans to rally behind this vision. Let us make our continent a place where every citizen can travel freely, where every nation’s story is shared, and where every victory, like Botswana’s, belongs to us all.
Ras Mubarak, Campaign Leader. Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign Endorsed by the Governments of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Namibia.
#OpenAfrica #OpenOpportunities
- Ras Mubarak* is a former Member of Parliament in Ghana and Leader of the Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign
