30 Jan 2025

Government has set in motion a National Listening Tour, the aim of which is to engage the public and stakeholders from all corners of Botswana, to hear their ideas and aspirations with a view to integrate them into the government agenda.

True to his word, President Advocate Duma Boko has delivered on a promise he made during his maiden State-of-the-Nation Address last year November that no one will be left behind in building a new Botswana.

It is in this context that Minster for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa officially launched the National Listening Tour dubbed Mmualebe in Gaborone on Wednesday that resonates with government’s six priority pillars of: building a deep economy that offers each citizen opportunities for a happy and fulfilled life; democracy governance and security; international relations and global markets.

Others include land, housing, environment, climate change and green economy; education, research and human resource development and  healthcare, social protection and gender equality.

Mr Mohwasa said Mmualebe would afford Batswana an opportunity to voice their opinion on key national issues such as land, sports and arts, minerals and energy beneficiation, finance, youth and unemployment among others.

The minister said the UDC led government strongly believed that for effective leadership to prevail, leaders should have keen interest in engaging the citizenry and serving them according to their aspirations and needs.

Through the initiative, Mr Mohwasa said the public was empowered to speak up and suggest how they wanted Botswana to look.

He said it would also remind the public of their responsibility toward shaping the government they wanted as well as encouraging them (public) to always hold government accountable.

Its target audience would include but not limited to, government organisations, councillors, churches, pressure groups, civil societies, dikgosi, community based organisations, Parliament, Cabinet, employees and media.

Mr Mohwasa further said a mix of communication tools such as kgotla meetings, pitso, roads shows, radio, newspapers and television would be used to derive maximum benefits from the exercise. ENDS