By Moses Magadza in Botswana

The Speaker of the Parliament of Botswana, Honourable Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse, has proposed a strategic partnership between the Parliament of Botswana and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) to deepen collaboration on human and social development, capacity building, and evidence-based law-making across the region.

Speaking in Gaborone when Members of the SADC PF Standing Committee on Human and Social Development and Special Programmes (HSDSP) paid a courtesy call on him ahead of their statutory meeting, Hon. Keorapetse reaffirmed Botswana’s strong commitment to regional parliamentary cooperation and the work of the Forum.

He described SADC PF as an institution that has played a significant role in advancing democratic governance and regional integration.

“SADC PF is very close to my heart as I have served it from when I first joined Parliament in 2014 to date,” he said.

He recalled his earlier service as Deputy Chairperson of the Forum’s Standing Committee on Trade, Industry and Finance and as a member of the Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee.

“I have witnessed and appreciated the growth and most importantly the impact of the works of the Forum across the region.”

He said the courtesy call symbolised the shared commitment of national parliaments to strengthen cooperation through the regional parliamentary body and stated that Botswana remains a steadfast supporter of regional integration and parliamentary oversight.

He commended the HSDSP Committee for its work in advancing human development priorities and amplifying citizens’ voices through public engagement processes.

Hon. Keorapetse also highlighted the role of Parliament as the cornerstone of democratic governance in Botswana.

Established in 1965 under the Constitution, the Parliament of Botswana is the supreme legislative authority responsible for legislation, representation, and oversight.

He explained that while the country operates a unicameral legislative system, the National Assembly works in consultation with Ntlo Ya Dikgosi on tribal and customary matters.

“Parliament is charged with the responsibility of legislation, representation and oversight,” he said, adding that the institution plays a central role in approving national budgets, scrutinising government policies, and representing the interests of citizens.

He noted that the 13th Parliament, inaugurated in November 2024 following a historic political transition, is pursuing a transformation agenda aimed at strengthening parliamentary independence, enhancing oversight capacity, and building a responsive institution that meets the needs of citizens.

He said, “Our vision is clear: to build a strong, independent Parliament that is at the heart of both democracy and national development. We are building a sustainable Parliament ecosystem that enables performance, accountability, and long-term impact.”

Hon. Keorapetse said Botswana participates consistently in SADC PF activities, including plenary assemblies, committee work and election observation missions.

Such engagement, he noted, strengthens dialogue, solidarity, and shared learning among legislatures while promoting democratic values and accountability.

He highlighted the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Parliament of Botswana and the SADC PF in January 2026 for the implementation of the Sweden-supported SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project.

The initiative, he said, will support advocacy for integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights services, gender-responsive climate action, and improved health outcomes.

The Speaker proposed concrete areas of collaboration between the Parliament of Botswana and the SADC PF, particularly through the HSDSP Committee.

These include joint capacity-building programmes for Members of Parliament and staff, policy exchange and sharing of best practices in education, health, and social protection, alignment of special programmes targeting youth, women, and vulnerable groups, and strengthened research and data support to inform evidence-based legislation.

Deputy Speaker of Botswana, Hon. Helen Manyeneng, presented the institution’s collaborative approach with traditional leadership and regional partners as a defining feature of the country’s governance model.

She highlighted Botswana’s governance tradition as one rooted in cooperation between modern democratic institutions and traditional leadership structures, a partnership that has helped sustain social cohesion and ensure that policy decisions remain grounded in community experience.

She also pointed to the importance of collaboration beyond national borders and praised the SADC PF as a vital platform for regional dialogue and collective problem-solving.

“I wish to commend the SADC Parliamentary Forum for its sustained leadership in advancing regional solutions, particularly through the development of model laws on critical issues such as child marriage, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, and prison oversight,” she said.

She noted that Botswana has aligned its national policies with the principles of the SADC Protocol on Education and Training and said Botswana was focused on equitable access to education, lifelong learning and protection of workers’ rights.

She urged parliamentarians to work collectively to strengthen education systems, create employment opportunities and promote social protection.

On her part, the Secretary General of the SADC PF, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, commended the Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana, Hon. Keorapetse, for his dedication to parliamentary work and his longstanding contribution to regional parliamentary cooperation.

Ms Sekgoma praised the Speaker’s work ethic and commitment to public service and noted that his schedule reflected a deep sense of duty to the institution of Parliament and the people of Botswana.

She also recognised Hon. Keorapetse’s longstanding role within the SADC PF, especially his leadership in shaping the Forum’s strategic direction and his support for the transformation of the organisation into a fully-fledged regional parliament.

She described his belief in parliamentary institutions as central to strengthening democracy, accountability and development across Southern Africa.

The SG expressed appreciation to the Parliament of Botswana for hosting the HSDSP Committee meeting and for its continued partnership in advancing regional development initiatives.

She singled out the Parliament’s embrace of the Sweden-funded Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS Governance Project as an example of strong parliamentary ownership of regional programmes.

“Your institution’s ownership of this initiative exemplifies the model of parliamentary leadership that the Forum seeks to promote across the region,” she said, adding that the Forum remained optimistic about the project’s continued success in Botswana.

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