Citizens await SONA with keenness
09 Nov 2026
The delivery of the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) by the President is a momentous occasion that citizens and residents alike await with keenness every year.
As President Advocate Duma Boko delivers this year’s SONA on Monday, Batswana from different walks of life are optimistic that a good year lies ahead.
Author and pastor, Mr Mazwihwo Nfila expects President Boko' speech to charts a fresh course for the nation through moving from political promises to practical governance.
Pastor Nfila says while he still carries great expectations for the new Botswana, change must be protected by strong institutions, effective systems and a culture of accountability, not just the goodwill of those in office.
He hopes for a clear, practical and measurable plan for governing Botswana, especially on the service delivery front.
"I would rather hear five achievable commitments with clear implementation plans than 50 ambitious promises without a roadmap," he said.
Pastor Nfila also wants a Botswana where a Motswana in Manxotae or Nlaphwane feels the same belonging and enjoys similar opportunities as someone in Gaborone. He wants a Botswana where opportunity is determined by citizenship, fairness and merit, rather than by political connections or geographical location.
He says the true measure of SONA should not be applause in Parliament, but progress that Batswana can measure in their everyday lives.
For Mr Kelathilwe Moses of Teemashane Trust, a Mohembo-based fishing business, his expectation is for the President to liberate the tourism industry for the direct benefit of communities.
Mr Moses believes that communities in concession areas such as NG10 and NG11 in the Okavango region should be given hunting quotas for the full benefit of the said communities.
He said such would strengthen the communities’ efforts aimed at promoting sustainable management of natural resources and ownership of such resources by the communities.
A farmer, Ms Kemo Begani of Spring Blossom, a horticulture business located in Kauxwi said her expectation from this year’ SONA is for President Boko to present initiatives and programmes aimed to empower farmers who are committed to help Botswana attain food security.
Ms Begani said presently, the country is still grappling with a high food import bill and that putting in place initiatives to support the work of the farming community would help lower the food import bill and put the country on the path to food self-sufficiency.
Though personally concerned about the state of the economy, Ms Keleabetswe Setshwano of Francistown hopes Advocate Boko will lay out a solid plan that will take Botswana out of the economic challenges that the country is facing.
She says the country should explore ways of capitalising on its international relations.
“We should consider bartering our resources like certain species of wildlife for things we critically need like medicines. Right now elephants are roaming everywhere, we can give them away in exchange of something we need,” Ms Setshwano said.
The expectation of Ms Khabe Olaotse, chairperson of Tonota-based women empowerment organisations, Lentswe la Bomme and Thele ya Kgomo, is that the President will address youth unemployment which continues to grow at an alarming rate.
She also expects him to address the issue of drug and substance abuse, which she says is robbing Botswana of its future. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : BOPA
Location : Francistown
Event : Interview
Date : 09 Nov 2026
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