02 Oct 2025

The Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has called for reforms to the country’s electoral system.

Speaking at the official opening of the 12th Annual International Electoral Awards and Symposium on yesterday, he acknowledged that certain democratic deficits remained unresolved and must be addressed if the country was to fully honour the principles of free and fair elections.

Hence, he said the government was not merely content having won an election.

“We are committed to correcting the systemic gaps that have long undermined trust in our democratic institutions and to ensuring that future elections in Botswana are not only peaceful but fully transparent, participatory, and accountable from start to finish.”

Thus, Mr Mohwasa said the symposium was not just timely but essential, as it would discuss issues that sat at the heart of modern democracy, including the independence of electoral commissions, the risks and rewards of electoral technologies, voter education, disinformation, inclusivity and institutional reform.

He said these were not abstract themes but real-world challenges that determined whether people trusted their democracy or withdraw from it.

The minister said that, as the custodian of the electoral process, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) played a foundational role, adding that government acknowledged its technical competence in managing the 2024 elections.

However, he said it equally stressed the urgent need for greater independence, openness, and legal reforms to ensure it could perform its duties free from political or administrative interference. “As a government, we will support the review and strengthening of Botswana’s electoral legal framework.

We will ensure that all key aspects, from voter registration to campaign financing to dispute resolution, are governed by clear, fair, and enforceable rules, rooted in constitutionalism and the rights of our citizens.”

The chairperson of the IEC, Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo, said the symposium meant a lot to the country, as it brought together leaders, professionals, and innovators across the globe to share and grow knowledge and engage in high-level discussions on the future of electoral management.

He said the symposium offered the Commission an opportunity to benchmark and learn as it prepares for the next cycle of electoral activities.

Justice Nyamadzabo said the international symposium was being held for the first time in Botswana, with the IEC co-hosting in partnership with the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies.

The symposium, which started on Wednesday and will end on today, provides an opportunity for commissioners, practitioners, and experts from across the globe to exchange perspectives, explore innovative approaches, and renew their collective commitment to credible elections. ENDS