03 Jul 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, will on Wednesday, address the International Summit on Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation in Africa.

The summit which will be held in Gaborone in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) will run from Wednesday through Friday. 

The press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Heads of State expected to participate in the summit virtually include Presidents Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Dr Hage Geingob and Mr José Maria Pereira Neves of Kenya, Namibia and Cape Verde in that order. 

A number of former Heads of State also expected to attend the summit virtually include Dr Festus Mogae, Dr Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Ms Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, Mr Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, Dr Joyce Banda of Malawi and Mr Nicephone Dieudonne of Benin. 

Also attending virtually will be US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms Uzra Zeya. 

The release says the three-day summit will provide political leaders, members of civil society, academia, media, regional institutions and opinion leaders, opportunity to deliberate and exchange views on constitutional rule, democracy and good governance in Africa. 

It says the summit will also have a series of panel discussions focusing on, among others, women’s political leadership in Africa, African youth and politics as well as civil society and grassroots mobilisation.

Further, it says co-hosting of the summit by Botswana and NDI, is testament to the country’s commitment to the principles of democracy and respect for rule of law.

The release says the summit builds on an earlier one held in October 2019 in Niamey, Niger, which also focused on constitutional term limits.

 Co-host NDI, is a non-governmental organisation that works in partnership with other stakeholders to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, values, processes to secure a better quality of life for all. Ends