Botswana: Speaker Implores Parliament to Drive Reforms

Gaborone — Botswana's 13th parliament has been challenged to rise to the historic responsibility of deepening democracy, restoring public trust in institutions and steering the country towards economic transformation amid mounting national challenges.

Delivering a keynote address during a three-day Parliament's Budgetary Engagement and Oversight of Public Enterprises workshop in Gaborone, on Wednesday, the National Assembly speaker, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said the current parliament occupied a unique place in Botswana's history following the country's first change of government and was, therefore, expected to drive meaningful reforms and strengthen democratic governance.

Parliament, Mr Keorapetse said remained the cornerstone of accountability and democratic oversight, particularly at a time when citizens across Africa were increasingly demanding transparency, responsiveness and good governance from their leaders.

"Democracy extends beyond elections and majority rule, requiring governments to remain accountable to citizens through their elected representatives," he said. He stressed that public officials and political leaders must be prepared to answer for their decisions, respond to criticism and accept responsibility where failures occur.

Mr Keorapetse also noted that parliamentary committees served as one of the most effective instruments available to parliament in holding the executive and public institutions accountable for the use of public resources and the implementation of government policies. He warned that Botswana finds itself at a critical juncture, balancing the benefits of past economic successes against emerging structural, social and environmental challenges that threatened future growth and development.

According to the speaker, the country's current economic difficulties presented an opportunity to chart a new development path and accelerate efforts to diversify the economy away from overreliance on diamonds. He said the decisions taken today by policymakers and legislators would have far-reaching consequences for future generations, making evidence-based decision-making and adherence to the rule of law more important than ever.

Mr Keorapetse further highlighted growing concerns across Africa regarding declining public confidence in institutions, citing studies showing that whilst citizens overwhelmingly supported democratic governance, many remained dissatisfied with the performance of public institutions and elected leaders.

He said surveys conducted across the continent revealed increasing demands for accountability, free an