16 May 2022

Legatum Institute has been requested to provide Botswana with technical competency training. 

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi made the request during an engagement with a delegation from the institute at Office of the President on Thursday. 

He said Botswana lacked and yearned for exposure and orientation of its young political leadership on assumption of office. 

Ministers and MPs needed to be orientated and trained on national policies for them to debate, engage and deliver efficiently to the ideals of Botswana's democracy, the President said. He said leadership training would give a better understanding on the roles and mindset prerequisites for the political leadership. 

The institute’s director of policy Dr Stephen Brien said the delegation’s visit was aimed at supporting Dr Masisi in his Vision 2036 and NDP12 aspirations. 

Explaining that the institute had done a lot of benchmarking on prosperity, he said the aim was to bring those insights and perspectives to planning processes in Botswana. 

Legatum Institute’s mission is to advance public education on national and international political, social and economic policy. Earlier, Dr Masisi had bid farewell to US ambassador Mr Graig Cloud whose tour of duty comes to an end after three years. 

Dr Masisi expressed gratitude for the warm relations between Botswana and the US saying the two shared values and commitment to democracy. 

He thanked the US government for the support extended to Botswana at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which included donations of medical essentials. President Masisi noted that US support also extended to HIV/AIDS, child abuse and gender-based violence. 

Botswana was also thankful for the US Peace Corps programme, he stated. 

For his part, Mr Cloud expressed gratitude for his three-year tenure saying it was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He also expressed US’ commitment towards supporting and collaborating with Botswana in the education, health economic prosperity and security fields. 

Mr Cloud said his government planned on returning the Peace Corps volunteers to Botswana following an evacuation of over 100 during COVID-19 pandemic. They plan to start with 25 volunteers in September, he said. BOPA