20 May 2026

Parliament has launched a reform programme aimed at transforming the legislature into a stronger, more autonomous and high-performing institution capable of advancing democracy, accountability and national development in Botswana.

The reform process is being implemented through a new cooperation framework involving the Botswana Parliament, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Giving an overview during the opening of a five-day Parliament Capacity Building Workshop in Gaborone, CPA programmes manager Avni Kondhia said the cooperation agreement between the CPA, IPU and Parliament demonstrated Botswana’s determination to reposition its legislature as an autonomous institution able to effectively fulfil its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight and representation.

“Botswana’s legislature is expected to continue progressing through reforms necessary to keep the country at the forefront of democratic excellence,” she added.

Ms Kondhia described Botswana as one of the CPA’s longstanding and valued partners, adding that the reforms could position the country’s Parliament as a model institution within the Commonwealth.

To strengthen transparency, accountability and institutional effectiveness, for the benefit of citizens represented by parliament, Ms Kondhia said over the next two years, several core activities would be implemented.

“The CPA is very happy to support this ambitious agenda and alongside the IPU, we are confident that the work done as part of the agreement will serve as a beacon of good governance within the Commonwealth,” she added.

Meanwhile, IPU senior programmes officer Laurence Marzal said parliamentary reforms should be led and owned by Parliament itself, while organisations such as the IPU and CPA provided technical support, comparative experience and expertise rather than prescribing reforms.

Among the major reform priorities identified are strengthening the parliamentary service, improving institutional support systems and enhancing independent budget analysis capacity to build a more professional and independent legislature.

She said parliamentary autonomy was the foundation upon which accountability, effective representation and institutional credibility were built, as it enabled parliament to manage its own affairs, administration, resources and expertise without undue interference.

She stressed that democratic governance required more than elections, arguing that strong democracies depended on parliaments that were autonomous, effective and capable of independently managing their administration, resources and expertise.

She added that democracy and parliamentary development were continuous processes requiring constant adaptation and improvement, expressing optimism that Botswana’s Parliament was moving in the right direction as it pursued institutional reforms aimed at strengthening democratic governance. 

Held under the theme: Enhancing Parliament’s Capacity to Advance Democracy, Accountability and Development Outcomes,” the workshop brought together Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff and governance experts to develop a roadmap for institutional transformation.

The workshop discussions would focus on key areas identified through recommendations from the CPA Democratic Benchmarks Assessment, with activities over the next two years aimed at improving transparency, accountability and institutional effectiveness for the benefit of citizens. ENDS