19 Dec 2023

As the year comes to an end, newsrooms across the globe look back on the months that have passed and reflect on the stories that made headlines.

Although it is nearly impossible to pinpoint one defining story, the year 2023 has had both high and low points, but the year was generally quiet in ‘real politicking’.

For the first time, since Botswana became a democratic state, in 2023, the country has missed the scheduled national voter registration exercise that was postponed three times due to a court case between the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

The case in which UDC wants IEC to allow its agents to observe and monitor general voters’ registration exercise and other interlocutory applications is currently back-to-back before the courts.

Another high notable event was the unanimous appointment of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi to the position of the second Vice Chairperson of the African Union for the Southern region.

He joined the bureau of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union for 2023, a component of the Permanent Representative Committee of the AU, which plays an advisory role to the AU Executive Council.

The 2023 retrospectives were also dominated by external travels by the president in which strides have also been achieved in so far as improving Botswana’s international standing and pursuing Botswana’s foreign policy through international engagements at United Nations and other multilateral organisations.

Through extensive international travels, President Masisi continued to take full advantage of the good opportunities that exist in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as finding export market prospects for Botswana companies.

Previously, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Lemogang Kwape, indicated in an interview that the President’s external trips have accrued some dividends as Batswana were being placed in strategic leadership positions around the globe.

For example, some Batswana were appointed to the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption for two years, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child for five years, while the President was also behind the appointment of six Batswana interns to support the Botswana ECOSOC Presidency among others.

President Masisi made headlines as the chairperson of the Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) to have amplified the voices of the 32 members countries at the United Nations General Assembly towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, where he expressed challenges of the countries due to lingering effects of the COVID-19, global micro economic challenges and climate change, to mention but a few.

Due to these countries geographical and structural vulnerabilities to external shocks and low resilience, he stated that the countries were not able to fully harness the potential to support SDG efforts.

Another notable event in 2023 was the historic state visit of Swiss Confederation President, Alain Berset to Botswana at the invitation of President Masisi, which was also followed by a return leg to Switzerland by the Botswana delegation led by President Masisi.

The visits were an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation.

Other engagements on the political front include an agreement to allow for the use of the National Identity Cards (Omang) as travel documents between Botswana and Namibia.

The move was viewed as a clear demonstration of the two countries’ steadfast commitment to promote relations and foster social cohesion among the citizens, as well as enhance regional cooperation and integration.

The initiative, aimed at easing the movement of citizens and strengthen trade between the two countries, also positioned Botswana and Namibia as trendsetters in the African continent to leap frog towards the realisation of the SADC Protocol on Facilitation of Movements of Persons.

President Masisi also continued to consult other countries such as Zimbabwe. The year 2023 was also characterised by the President and Cabinet ministers’ back-to-back kgotla consultative meetings across the country, fortifying the spirit of the kgotla system where everyone’s opinion was valued.

The meetings allowed residents to touch base with their leaders to speak about their concerns from the closest to furthest places, while the meetings were also an opportunity to assure residents about what the government was doing to address those concerns.

Notably, another bustling headline on the political front was the defection of the Specially Elected MP, Dr Unity Dow, from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to join the Botswana Congress Party, while a number of council by-elections were held countrywide, which were dominated by UDC snatching most wards, followed by the BDP, the BPF, the BCP and the AP. ENDS