13 May 2019

Botswana’s traditional institutions can be adapted to western contexts and practices in areas of conflict aversion and resolution.

This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when welcoming the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) secretariat to the Office of the President on May 13.

“It would be great if the world listened to us, if for instance the United Nations Security Council could model their strategy around our kgotla system,” he said.

Botswana, he said, had the experience and ability to negotiate with the powerful and mighty and would be willing to share notes and experiences with its peers.

“Be prepared to hear us speak out,” he said adding that “there are those who assume that economic muscle and land muscle speak to righteousness and virtue, but we will demonstrate that you can have a peaceful existence and still exude power.”

Dr Masisi told the delegation, which had paid a courtesy call on him ahead of a sensitisation workshop on the implementation of APRM process,  that while Botswana practised good governance, there was always room for growth and improvement.

“This comes in the form of sustainability with successive generations who have to bear the same virtues and traits in an era of fast changing technology,” he said.

Dr Masisi emphasised the need for Africans to be in control of their own narratives and documentation of cultures as opposed to relying on others.  APRM chairperson, Professor Ibrahim Gambari congratulated Botswana for joining APRM earlier this year and praised the country for its outstanding record on good governance.

He expressed the hope that all African Union members would become members of the body.

“We want this to happen because we have an additional mandate of monitoring implementation of all members of the African Union of the commitment to Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063,” he noted.

Peer reviewing, he said, should trickle down to local administration  such as districts and councils which would cascade the process to the people. While in Botswana, the delegation is expected to advise on the establishment of a national structure such as secretariat and  governance commission as well as engage in sensitisation of stakeholders and roadmap discussions for the country review mission.ENDS