By Moses Magadza

Windhoek, Namibia – The Speaker of the Parliament of Botswana, Hon. Dithapelo Keorapetse, has urged African nations to move towards economic self-sufficiency by leveraging the continent’s vast natural and human resources.

Hon Keorapetse, Southern Africa’s youngest-ever Speaker at the age of 42, made the call at the official opening of an online training workshop on trade-related issues, jointly organised by the Trade and Law Centre (Tralac) and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), with support from SIDA.

He stressed the importance of regional integration and intra-African trade.

Hon Keorapetse said Africa had untapped economic potential and urged SADC member states to fully exploit the 1.5 billion population, $3.1 trillion GDP, and 30 million square kilometres of resource-rich land to improve the lives of their citizens.

He emphasised the need for better mobility, financial liberalisation, and free flow of goods and services across borders.

“It is particularly important that as the African continent we move towards taking advantage of our immense resources. How do we improve mobility of people from country to country?

“We still have countries in Africa which are still closed to fellow Africans. It is difficult to move around. We need to be moving towards a free flow of goods, free flow of finance, and most importantly, ease of movement because it is really challenging,” he told his virtual audience.

He cited bottlenecks in trade coordination, including long truck queues at Botswana’s borders, as key issues that require urgent resolution to enhance regional commerce.

The Speaker also issued a strong warning against Africa’s dependence on international aid, particularly considering shifting policies in the United States.

He referenced the uncertainty surrounding USA aid to Africa, stating that it should serve as a wake-up call for the continent to build sustainable, independent economies.

“I will keep on referring to the developments in the United States where overnight it is uncertain in terms of the aid that has been coming into Africa. What does it say to African leaders?

“It means we must build strong economies and ensure our minerals and natural resources are turned into finished products. That way, we create jobs, trade with one another, and grow our economies to reduce dependency on aid,” he reasoned.

Hon. Keorapetse stressed that Africa must move away from exporting raw materials and instead invest in value addition to drive job creation and economic resilience.

Addressing MPs and staff of national parliaments in attendance, the Speaker highlighted the critical role of lawmakers in shaping Africa’s trade policies.

He urged strong legislative oversight over the executive so that trade agreements prioritise economic growth and job creation.

“Lawmakers have a mammoth role in providing effective oversight on the executive as they make decisions regarding trade. These decisions must benefit the people -leading to job creation and bridging income and wealth inequalities.

“It is for MPs to ensure that laws promoting the ease of doing business, intra-Africa trade, and regional integration are enacted,” he stated.

He commended SADC PF and Tralac for organising the training, noting that such initiatives build the capacity of MPs and parliamentary staff to navigate complex trade matters and advocate for economic policies that benefit citizens.

Despite his demanding schedule, Hon. Keorapetse reaffirmed his commitment to the training.

“I have committed to attending this morning, in the afternoon, and the following day. I have asked my deputy to hold the fort for me while I attend this training. I will go into the House to preside later. This is a particularly important activity that I cannot miss,” he said.

SADC PF Secretary General Ms Boemo Sekgoma saluted Hon Keorapatse for his commitment to regional integration processes, noting how he had served the SADC PF in various capacities for a decade with energy and distinction.

“He is not a stranger to SADC PF. He has held various portfolios at the Forum, the latest being that of Acting Chairperson for the Standing Committee on Trade, Industry, Finance, and Investment (TIFI), under which we are meeting for this training,” the SG told the participants.

The training, which drew the participation of one hundred people on Tuesday, continues Wednesday with Ms Trudi Hartzenberg, the Executive Director of tralac and Professor Gerhard Erasmus, a trulac Associate, facilitating.

The capacity-building activity, which runs from Tuesday to Wednesday, seeks to equip Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff with essential knowledge of trade and trade agreements to strengthen parliamentary oversight and legislative engagement in trade-related matters.

-Moses Magadza (PhD) is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC PF.