15 Mar 2016

Head of the Commonwealth, also patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Queen Elizabeth says everyone can make a difference in the lives of others.

In a speech read by the Minister of Health, Ms Dorcus Makgato, at the CPA celebration day in Gaborone on Monday March 13, the Queen said Commonwealth citizens could always benefit from being open to the ideas and encouragement of their colleagues.

 “This is an essential ingredient of belonging to the Commonwealth. The willingness to share, exchange and to act for the common good, by including others, drawing on collective insights, knowledge and resources and thinking together, we lay a foundation of harmonious and progressive society,” the speech reads.

The commemoration was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of Botswana.

Presenting objectives of the Commonwealth, Botswana branch representative, Mr Machana Shamukuni, said the Commonwealth was a voluntary association of 54 countries across six continents that supported each other towards shared goals in democracy and development.

He said the membership of the Commonwealth started with the United Kingdom and its former colonies but over the years, other countries that shared the principles and ideals of the fraternity were accommodated.

“The Commonwealth holds meetings at summit level every two years in countries which choose to host such meetings. Botswana has held regional meetings such as the Commonwealth Africa Region Heads of Government,” he said.

He explained that Botswana enjoyed technical support from the Commonwealth Fund. 

He said the technical cooperation had enabled Botswana to benefit from the services of experts in various fields such as capacity development, meteorological services and education, both in service teacher training and long distance learning, over the years.

He said the purpose of the CPA was to connect, develop, promote and support parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmark opportunities for good governance and implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth.

He said the CPA collaborated with parliaments and other organisations, including the intergovernmental community, to achieve its purpose. 

He said it had brought together parliamentarians and parliament staff to exchange ideas among themselves and with experts in various fields to identify benchmarks of good practice and new policy options they could adopt or adapt in the governance of their societies.

“CPA’s activities focus on the Commonwealth’s commitment to its fundamental political values, including just and honest governance, the alleviation of poverty, fundamental human rights, international peace and order, global economic development, the rule of law, equal rights and representation for all citizens of both genders, the separation of powers among the three branches of government and the right to participate in free and democratic political processes,” he noted. Ends