10 Feb 2019

Botswana looks forward to drawing invaluable lessons from countries, which have already participated in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)  forum reviews.

Delivering a statement during the 28th summit of the APRM forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 9, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said Botswana was ready to participate in the periodic reviews in order to strengthen and enrich its democratic dispensation. 

“Equally it is our hope that APRM will afford Botswana opportunity to share its best practices and experiences with the rest of the African Union family,” he said. 

He said despite delay to accede to the APRM, Botswana, which became the 38th country to accede to the forum, always remained committed to upholding the shared values of democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights. 

“Our commitment to these democratic ideals is anchored on our strong belief and understanding that without adherence to these universal values, sustainable development, peace and prosperity in Botswana would elude us,” he said.

Furthermore, President Masisi said Botswana’s accession to the APRM demonstrated commitment to advancement of the shared values, which were necessary ingredients for attainment of sustainable development, peace and prosperity in the continent.

Dr Masisi said Botswana’s conviction in the self-assessment and monitoring on the African continent had never been in doubt, adding that, through collective and concerted efforts, the African Union would effectively address governance deficiencies that could undermine the envisaged development aspirations espoused in Agenda 2063.

APRM chairperson, who is also President of Chad, Mr Idriss Deby, said Botswana’s accession would hopefully inspire other countries in the continent to accede.

In an interview prior to the accession, permanent secretary in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Thuso Ramodimoosi said Botswana’s acceding to the APRM was important because the country could not adequately assess itself in terms of good governance, democracy and rule of law. 

Mr Ramodimoosi said after 52 years of independence, Botswana had been doing well on issues of democracy and should share and learn more from other countries such as Rwanda, among others.

APRM is an instrument voluntarily acceded to by African member states as a self-monitoring mechanism, founded in 2003.

It is a tool for sharing experiences, re-enforcing best practices and assessing capacity building needs to foster policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration. ENDS