10 Jul 2022

Africans support constitutionalism and presidential term limits.

That is according to a statement dubbed Gaborone Declaration, released at the end of the International Summit on Democracy and Constitutionalism  held in Gaborone July 6-8. 

The three-day summit was co-host by government and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which is based in the United States. 

The declaration says participants of the three-day summit are optimistic that African countries will turn leaf and embrace democracy.

Participants have also applauded former heads of state for their commitment to upholding democratic values and term limits as well as their continued engagement as mediators and facilitators in response to the constitutional crisis and recent military coups in some parts of the continent.

They have also acknowledged the number of citizen-led movements that have emerged to support constitutionalism and term limits through deployment of innovative strategies that fostered peaceful collaboration across national boundaries. African countries that had peaceful transfer of power through credible and inclusive elections also received praises. However, a shift from democracy to autocracy was noted as a concern.

The declaration regrets democratic advances of the early 1990s that are being undermined by authoritarian-minded leaders and military regimes that shrink political space, exacerbate social divisions, disrupt economic development and challenge constitutional norms to maintain their hold on power.

Again, participants regret efforts to strengthen the rule of law, social justice and national reconciliation, which they say have been rolled back.

They have, therefore, urged regional economic communities to formulate legal frameworks that entrench presidential term limits.

Participants have noted that the youth are eager to participate and contribute to democratic governance and the development of their respective countries.

“We regret that reluctance by some leaders to adhere to term limits denies youth opportunities for their participation in the peaceful and orderly renewal of political leadership and alternation of power,” reads the declaration.

Participants say promoting and defending principles of constitutionalism and enhancing democratic consolidation will create synergies amongst Africans at both grassroots and leadership levels aimed at consolidating constitutionalism and bolstering democratic resilience.

Furthermore, they will add their voices to efforts in favour of respecting and restoring term limits, constitutional rule and the rule of law as ingredients for peace, stability, continental integration and equitable development.

Participants have also pledged to promote the principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, African Union Constitutive Act, African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance and constitutions of African countries, as they relate to presidential term limits and renewal of political leadership.

The declaration also states that participants have pledged to support aspiring Africans, who embrace democratic and constitutional rule.

They are also committed to rejecting attempts to enact constitutional provisions that weakened term limits, undermine democratic institutions and subvert citizens’ will.

Participants further committed to supporting ethical leadership and thriving societies and thus called on African leaders to build trust and create stable, thriving societies that consolidated constitutionalism and the rule of law and allow for greater predictability in governance, economic and human development, and the peaceful transfer of executive powers.

On one hand, they regret the low number of women and girls in political leadership and that they continue to face political violence.

“We are committed therefore to support aspiring women leaders and further to create opportunities for young people to contribute in strengthening democratic governance.”

The Gaborone Declaration builds on the Constitutional Term Limits Summit held in Niger in 2019.

In December 2021, Botswana and 17 other African countries participated in the global Summit for Democracy at which President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi committed to promote dialogue on the consolidation of democracy in Africa and to solidify Botswana’s democratic progress. Ends