Members of Parliament (MPs) have been urged to ensure a fully inclusive constitutional review driven by the voices of the people.

The call was made by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Resident Representative Mr Thilo Schöne, during a three-day capacity-building workshop for MPs, which started at Hilton hotel in Gaborone yesterday.

Mr Schöne stressed that the Constitution belongs to the nation, and its renewal must reflect the hopes and expectations of all Batswana. While FES was honoured to support the process, he however emphasised that the direction and content of the reforms were solely in the hands of Batswana.

“It is not up to us. It is up to Botswana to decide,” he said..

Supported by FES, the workshop which ends on Thursday, has brought together MPs and legal experts to prepare legislators for the upcoming national constitutional review expected in 2026.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said the review was the most important democratic project of their time, adding that it must be people-centred and transparent.

“There can never be a review of a constitution by a few, with the people only minimally participating,” he said.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Gabriel Malebang reminded MPs of their responsibility as custodians of the Constitution, noting that while the 1966 document has served the country well, Botswana has evolved.

“The world has changed. Botswana has changed. Our Constitution must therefore reflect the new realities,” he said.

The workshop featured constitutional specialists from Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe, including former South African Minister of Justice, Brigitte Mabandla, who would provide comparative insights to guide the reform process. ENDS