06 Jul 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has become the second African leader after President of Benin Patrice Talom, to receive the Term Limits Baton from Tournons la Page – an African civil society movement for his commitment to championing constitutional term limits in the continent. 

He received the baton during the ongoing three-day International Summit on Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation in Africa held in Gaborone yesterday. The baton represents the commitment of the recipient not to seek no more than two terms in office, symbolised by the baton’s dual composition of gold and ebony. 

The baton further serves as a challenge to other African leaders seeking or serving more than two terms, to make the same commitment to constitutionalism and democratic transfers of power. 

Officiating at the summit which ends on Friday, President Masisi talked about the importance of countering democratic backsliding and the erosion of constitutionalism across the continent. 

He discussed Botswana’s commitment to democracy saying it was anchored on socially inclusive national strategies based on the will of the people and their full participation in the process of national governance. “We remain resolute in the belief that we are better served by strong institutions rather than strong men or women,” he said. 

The President further said that the architects of Botswana’s democracy founded it on principles of Setswana culture such as dialogue, gaining respect by first giving it, and free-speech. The principles, he said, were centred around the “Kgotla” system, which is the traditional congress of consultation, and recognising the value of everyone’s opinion. “We hold a strong conviction that Botswana’s democracy is like no other. In hosting this summit, we also sought to celebrate Botswana’s position as a champion of democracy in Africa,” he said. 

The summit presented strong partnerships for renewing and strengthening efforts for respect of constitutional term limits as a pillar of democratic governance and peaceful political transitions across the African Continent. 

Dr Masisi said Botswana fully embraced the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs’ (NDI) high level advocacy and grassroots mobilization of its Constitutional Term Limits Initiative. He pledged his, and government’s commitment to ensuring Botswana remained the beacon and Africa’s longest and continuous democracy. 

This he said would be buttressed by further committing to constitutional reviews, establishing frameworks to celebrate regional and global democratic achievements as well as continual electoral reforms to enhance women, civil society and non-state actors’ participation. 

“In fulfilling this promise, we reiterate our commitment to Democracy both at home and abroad and fully subscribe to its objective to promote dialogue on consolidation of Democracy in Africa, ” he said adding the summit was timely as it came at a time there was a lot of “democratic “backsliding” across the world . 

Meanwhile, President of NDI, Ambassador Derek Mitchell saluted President Masisi and former Niger President Mohamadou Issoufou for contributing to strengthening the principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law. He said the duo served as examples of leaders on the rest of the continent and the world by committing to mandatory constitutional term limits. 

By so doing the two leaders had shown respect for constitutionalism and helped to promote rule of law as well as displaying political accountability.. For her part, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms Uzra Zeya said elections were critical to democratic consolidation and that constitutionalism played an essential role in facilitating them. She said commitment to constitutionalism was central to the principles of a summit for democracy. In that regard, the US supported Botswana and her partners in advancing democratic principles throughout Africa and globally. 

She said constitutional term limits were key to democratic governance and had widespread popular support across Africa. In fact the Afro-barometer’s most recent poll revealed that 76 per cent of a survey in 34 countries supported constitutional provisions limiting the presidency to two terms. 

Government and NDI are co-hosting the summit which is held under the theme: Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation in Africa. It has brought together political leaders, members of civil society, academics, media, regional institutions and opinion leaders to deliberate on constitutional rule, democracy and good governance in Africa, among others.ENDS