14 May 2019

Botswana will be preparing to cascade the objectives of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to local authorities, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Nonofo Molefhi has revealed.

 

Briefing the media after this week’s APRM sensitisation workshop, the first to be held locally, Minister Molefhi said cascading the mechanism to local authorities was the next step.

 

He described it as vital in the institutionalisation of APRM since local authorities worked closely with the public.

 

The move would afford the public the opportunity to own the ideas and resolutions taken by the state, thereby making it easy to implement them, he explained.

 

About the workshop, he said it gave  member states the opportunity to look back and introspect on their development, economic and peace agendas amongst others.

 

Mr Molefhi said APRM had support  adding that President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi as the then vice president, met with the officials of the mechanism last year to map the way forward for Botswana to join.

 

For that reason, he said the APRM agenda would be a success.

 

For his part, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who is APRM chairperson, concurred with Minister Molefhi that Botswana stood to benefit immensely as its membership  afforded it the opportunity to learn from older members of the mechanism.

 

He said in Botswana’s favour was the fact that the country was a good example regionally and beyond and would be bringing a wealth of experience and achievements which others could use to review their policies and processes.

 

Professor Gambari said APRM started with eight states but membership has since increased to 38.

 

He said the fact that affiliation  was by choice made it easy for affiliates to stick to agreed resolutions at the same time being transparent in their dealings.ENDS