13 Jul 2026

The inaugural official opening of the 3rd Meeting of the Second Session of the 13th Parliament marked the transition from routine Parliamentary activities to the critical phase where substantive legislature work is prioritised.

Delivering his remarks to mark the historic event yesterday, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse said the initiative aimed to affirm Parliament’s core role in law making and its accountability to the electorate.

“Each session represents a fresh mandate to legislate, oversee the executive and give voice to the aspirations of our people,” Mr Keorapetse said. He said the meeting symbolised the continued legislative agenda, underscoring the importance of Parliament independence and reinforcing Botswana’s democratic principles.

Mr Keorapetse said efforts to strengthen public engagement in the legislative process through open committee hearings were intended to enrich discussions and promote transparency, ensuring that laws reflected diverse voices in society. His vision therefore centred on creating an independent, inclusive and citizen-centred institution.

This vision, the Speaker said, emphasised that a robust democracy relied on active citizen participation in governance rather than passive observation. He noted that his goal was to transform Parliament into a high-performing body by enhancing its institutional capacity, ensuring that learning and excellence were ongoing objectives.

Mr Keorapetse called for meaningful reforms that improve the life of ordinary Batswana. He said leaders should avoid cosmetic reforms and instead pursue changes that met the aspiration of workers, youth, women, persons with disabilities and other citizens.  ENDS