24 Nov 2014

Good governance is a prerequisite for sustainable development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi has said.

Dr Venson-Moitoi was officiating at the Democracy Forum of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in Gaborone on Monday, November 24.

The forum, she said, was timely and appropriate as most countries were making serious efforts to develop governance institutions and manage their natural resources for sustainable development. In managing these resources, she said, countries had to address the challenges they faced such as animal and human conflict and the environment. 

She said there was need to embrace sustainable development as a way of life and pay more attention to getting the balance right between what could be economically feasible, socially desirable and environmentally sustainable.

In the case of Botswana, Dr Venson-Moitoi said, the country had grown its economy through a people-centred development approach anchored on prudent natural resource management, in particular its mineral wealth.  This, she said was done through consultation and planning in government policy making process. 

Sound management of natural resources, she said, was also very crucial. For that reason, she said Botswana had always attached value to its natural resources and showed leadership on how effectively they could be used for the benefit of all Batswana. 

These natural resources had also been used to create jobs, provide and improve access to health services and education, among other modest achievements made, she added. 

She said, “We continue to manage all this because we have a stable political environment which contributed to sustainable economic growth.”

Dr Venson-Moitoi expressed gratitude that since its establishment 19 years ago, International IDEA had played a crucial role in promoting issues of democracy, elections and good governance as well as contributing towards efforts in strengthening governance institutions in countries. 

Such institutions, the minister said were very crucial “as they remind us of the fact that, as member states, without democracy and good governance, development becomes a serious challenge.” 

She thanked International IDEA and member states for electing Botswana as chairperson of the Council of member States of International IDEA for the year 2014. 

This, she said was a great honour as it demonstrated the confidence they had on Botswana’s leadership and commitment to promoting democracy and good governance. 

Botswana, Dr Venson-Moitoi said was now in the unique position to forge an appropriate path of development based on sound management of its natural resources and adopt practices that could be implemented with the determination and diligence on which its future depends, as a global community.

The two-day annual Democracy Forum was meant to provide the necessary platform for an exchange of views in an open, frank and transparent manner on issues pertaining to democracy, sustainable development, good governance, policy formulation and reform, which form the core mandate of International IDEA. 

The forum also seeks to discuss how democracies sustain the principles of democracy while pursuing their development objectives and bring into focus the challenges of balancing and promoting the two priorities, take stock of legal frameworks and international standards that ensure good governance of natural resources. 

It also sought to identify good practices of public-private partnerships, cooperation between government and civil society, as well as CSR that advance democracy and development objectives.  The meeting attracted the participation of leaders from government, the private sector, civil society, development partners and international institutions. ENDS