31 Oct 2023

Members of Parliament need the skills and tools to navigate the emerging challenges and improve institutional capacity.

It is therefore vital that time and again, they are assisted to sharpen their ability to deal with complex issues they come across as leaders and legislators.

The sentiments were expressed by the speaker of the National Assembly Mr Phandu Skelemani at the official opening of a week-long workshop for legislators in Gaborone, Monday.

The workshop precedes this year’s State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) scheduled  for  November 6.

Mr Skelemani said although MPs in their own personal capacity might be knowledgeable on many issues, they needed to be capacitated time and again to better perform their functions.

“You also need the ability to dissect what is being presented to you and to see how that affects the people that you represent. This will help you contribute positively to policy formulations that will in the end help in the development of this republic,” he said.

Mr Skelemani said as the 12th Parliament was about to start its last lap, all that was possible should be done to enable the legislators to perform even better, especially that capacity building was not only meant to benefit them as MPs, but as community leaders.

He also said issues to be discussed during the workshop were timely as they affected people daily.

“Our ability therefore, to deal with such issues on behalf of the ordinary people is very important, so this workshop should sharpen that ability so that we would be able to simplify complex issues to the people that we represent,” he said.

He also said Parliament through effective legislation, oversight and representation could make good laws and promote good governance which was fundamental to the development of Botswana.

During the week-long workshop, legislators will discuss National Migration Policy and Strategies and climate change issues. Ends