"I spent a lot of time with them. They had been forced into exile as students and had left their parents behind. With my experience, it was a mind-boggling experience, that so young a people could run away from their homes because of their political beliefs fearing arrest or being killed by government security agents. It led me to an appreciation of life; that people react differently under pressure. But even then, it wasn't that 'alien' to me because of the way I came to Botswana."

"This is not only a loss to us as a family, but to the nation of Botswana, SADC region and the world. My mother was a real treasure."

"'I know that I am going into rough terrain,' she says. 'Politics can be bad or good. It depends on how you, the people, play it out. I am an optimist.'"

"My PhD is not the measure of my intelligence,' she demures. 'I have a PhD because of opportunities hence I don't respect people just because they are educated.'"

"Condom use remains one of the most tried and tested methods of preventing HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases."

"Poverty remains the biggest assault on the dignity of our people."