06 Nov 2023

 Batswana have been implored to register and vote in the upcoming next year general elections.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi  made the plea Monday when delivering  his last State-of-Nation Address before the general elections. 

He reminded Batswana that the Constitution provided for the holding of general elections every five years.

As a norm, President Masisi said, relevant institutions of government were preparing to adhere to the obligation placed on them by Batswana with the utmost level of professionalism and integrity.

In this regard, he said the Independent Electoral Commission would undertake a general Voter Registration exercise from November 13 to December 8.

“I therefore, take this opportunity to encourage all Batswana who are 18 years and above, and have a valid Omang, to present themselves at their polling stations to register for the 2024 general elections before registration closes on December 8”.

He said as the President, it was also imperative for him to implore Batswana who had registered to also turn up to vote on election day.

“This is your constitutional and democratic right, the right to decide whom you can entrust the onerous task of governing this republic,” he stated.

President Masisi further urged Batswana, all political parties, their supporters and all would be standing as candidates to conduct themselves peacefully and within the confines of the law during the election period.

He said Batswana should remember that they might differ in terms of ideas they had for the future of this nation as reflected in their various political party manifestos, but what defined the country better was its value system anchored on Botho, not political differences.

President Masisi said the country was known for the peaceful manner and decorum in which it conducted its affairs, as well as the nation’s unity in diversity.

He said Botswana was democratic nation, governed by democratic principles and consultation was central to how it conducted its affairs.

In this regard, he said the country would always endeavor to ensure that its development planning, policy-making and legislative processes were participatory and inclusive of every Motswana.

Furthermore, Dr Masisi said a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution of Botswana in accordance with section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (Cap. 05:02) was appointed in 2021 , which was the first wholesome inquiry into the review of the Constitution.

He said the commission held meetings in all the 57 constituencies where Batswana submitted their views.

 After considering the submissions, the commission submitted a report to the government and thereafter, the Constitutional Review Report was immediately made public, he said.

President Masisi said government had considered the recommendations of the commission and a Government White Paper was ready for submission to the November 2023 sitting of Parliament.

Furthermore, he said as a responsive government and through extensive consultations across the country, government received feedback from the public on the need to improve service delivery.

“To this extent, in 2022, all 22 sub-districts were upgraded to fully fledged districts to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness in delivering services to the people.”

The President said the decentralisation process would gradually cover all public services and transform the local governance system to be people-centric. ENDS