18/06/2026
SPEAKER HON. KEORAPETSE LEADS BOTSWANA DELEGATION TO 19TH CSPOC AFRICA REGION CONFERENCE
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse, MP, is currently attending the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) from 15th to 20th June 2026 at the Emperors Palace in Gauteng, South Africa. The Honourable Speaker is accompanied by senior parliamentary officials.
The theme of the conference is, βProactive Parliaments and Sustainable Development: An Imperative for Political Stability in Africa.β
The following topics will be discussed at the conference:
Topic no. 1: The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Public Trust in Governance. Mover β Botswana
Topic no. 2: Reforming and Developing Innovative Mechanisms and Strategies for Effective and Proactive Parliamentary Leadership in Africa's Development.
Topic no. 3: Harnessing the Potential of the Youth of Africa for Sustainable Development: The role of parliament.
Topic no. 4: Leveraging Technology and Digital Tools for Effective, Sustainable Development.
The Speaker, Hon. Keorapetse was designated as the mover for Topic 1: The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Public Trust in Governance. The Panel for this session also comprised the Chairperson: Gambia and Seconder: Uganda.
CSPOC brings together the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the national parliaments and sub-national legislatures of the independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) β Africa Region convenes the CSPOC conference every two years.
Participation in the conference is open only to Speakers and presiding officers of the national Parliaments and sub-national legislatures of all independent sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations in the Africa Region. The members are Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The primary objective of CSPOC is to uphold and strengthen impartiality in Commonwealth parliaments and safeguard the independence of legislative institutions. It provides a structured, non-political space for parliamentary leaders to discuss procedural integrity, administration, and member ethics.
The aims of the Conference
Β· Maintain, foster, and encourage impartiality and fairness on the part of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments;
Β· Promote knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy in its various forms; and
Β· Develop parliamentary institutions.
During the Plenary Session, the Speaker emphasised the essence of trust in a democracy and underscored that trust is the lifeblood of democracy; without it, parliaments risk becoming hollow chambers; with it, they become engines of sustainable development and guardians of peace. He highlighted that a parliament composed of the most committed and diligent representatives, or a government staffed by the best experts and visionaries, cannot successfully implement reform without decent levels of trust in society.
He underscored Botswanaβs experience, noting that since independence, the Parliament of Botswana has anchored democracy through transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. The peaceful transfer of power in our 2024 General Elections reaffirmed that trust in institutions is not accidental; it is earned through integrity and courage. Guided by Vision 2036, we continue to legislate for inclusivity, sustainability, and prosperity, ensuring that no citizen feels excluded from the national journey.
Hon. Keorapetse also acknowledged some challenges, citing rising corruption perceptions. While Botswana remains among the least corrupt countries globally, ranked 39th out of 180 by Transparency International, Afrobarometerβs 2025 study revealed growing public concern, particularly regarding the presidency. He concluded: βWe affirm that trust is not given; it is earned through consistent, courageous, and compassionate governance.β
He also cited the example of Botswanaβs Kgotla system that calls for leaders to be willing to listen to everyone from all walks of life. He called on parliaments to remain as the bridge between the people and the state, the torchbearers of integrity, and the guardians of Africaβs democratic future.
In addition to his role as mover of Topic 1, the Speaker made a significant intervention on harnessing the potential of Africaβs youth for sustainable development. He observed that too many young people remain unemployed, discouraged, or trapped in precarious jobs, often excluded from meaningful participation in the economy and governance.
This exclusion, he stressed, has particularly harsh consequences for young women, who face compounded barriers in accessing opportunities. Their struggles remind us that inequality is not abstract; it is lived daily, undermining the very foundations of sustainable development.
Hon. Keorapetse cautioned against isomorphic mimicry, the superficial replication of institutional forms without genuine transformation. βTo merely imitate the appearance of progress is to betray the promise of our youth,β he warned. Instead, parliaments must reβexamine their approach to policy formulation and craft policies that are contextβsensitive, inclusive, and authentically responsive to the realities of African societies.
The delegation is expected to return to Gaborone on 21st June 2026.
Endsβ¦
