27 May 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko has urged council chairpersons and mayors to focus on strategic and practical solutions that promote economic transformation.

He advocated for innovation, local leadership, and inclusive growth to effectively tackle the challenges facing communities across the country.

President Boko made these remarks on May 26 while addressing the Council Forum in Selebi Phikwe, a gathering that convened civic leaders to discuss critical local governance issues with a view to improve service delivery.

He noted that while Botswana has long depended on a diamond-based economy, declining diamond sales have created economic challenges.

Consequently, he emphasised the need to shift from a mineral-reliant economy to a dynamic, digitally inclusive one that provides opportunities for all citizens.

The President acknowledged several pressing challenges facing the country, including high youth unemployment, inadequate healthcare and deteriorating infrastructure.

He attributed some of these issues to a deeply unequal economic structure that marginalises a significant portion of the population.

He explained that this disparity limited access to opportunities and hindered social cohesion and stability.

To combat this, President Boko urged council top-brass to continuously seek sustainable methods for generating socio-economic growth that would empower local authorities to deliver better services and enhance livelihoods.

He stressed that implementing these strategic solutions was essential for bridging the gap between current circumstances and the aspirations of local authorities.

“Assessing the current challenges and identifying specific areas for enhancement are strategic solutions that can create a clearer pathway for achieving more effective and responsive service offerings that meet the needs of the community,” he said.

Furthermore, President Boko called on local authorities to set aside political differences and work collectively, emphasizing that their primary focus must be the welfare of the citizens rather than advancing political interests.

He reminded leaders that despite their different party affiliations, mayors and council chairpersons share a common responsibility to serve the nation.

For his part, the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, stated that the forum served as an opportunity for introspection and sharing developmental ideas to achieve positive results.

Also, he noted that the forum provided a platform to engage directly with President Boko and outline exactly what local authorities need to hoist the country to greater heights.

Mr Motshegwa underscored the need to upgrade certain sub-districts, noting that some were geographically too large for effective service delivery, while others were densely populated. ENDS