Embracing openness in global governance
CATERPILLAR HIKUAMA | Thursday July 16, 2026 09:52
Introduction
It is a profound honour to stand before you today, representing the people of Maun West and the Botswana Congress Party, as we gather to mark the historic 105th Anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
An anniversary of this magnitude is a testament to resilience, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to national transformation. Over more than a century, the CPC has guided China from an agrarian society into a global vanguard of technology, industrialization, and human development. For political parties across Botswana, this journey offers invaluable lessons in political longevity and disciplined party-building.
On governance and educational transformation
The theme of this symposium “exchanging views on governance and party-building”, strikes at the very heart of our responsibilities as political leaders. As we discuss governance, we mustdiscuss the foundation of any nation: its education system. How we train our people determines the future of our societies.
In reflecting on China’s immense developmental journey, we look closely at the foundational philosophy of Comrade Chairman Mao Zedong regarding the purpose of learning.
Chairman Mao famously asserted that 'education must serve proletarian politics and must be combined with productive labour.' He understood that true knowledge is not found in isolated ivory towers or abstract theories divorced from reality. Instead, he maintained that our educational institutions should strive to create individuals who are 'workers with both socialist consciousness and culture.'
This is a profound lesson for us in Botswana. As we reform our own educational frameworks, we must move away from systems that produce graduates who are over-credentialed but under-skilled for practical nation-building. We, too, must aim to foster citizens who possess both high intellectual culture and a deep consciousness of their duty to the public good.
Combining Education with Productive Labour (The Maun West Context):
This philosophy resonates deeply with my work as the Member of Parliament for Maun West—the gateway to the Okavango Delta. In a constituency defined by ecological wonders,tourism, and agriculture, we see first-hand the necessity of combining education with productive labour.
Our youth do not just need to read about conservation or agriculture in books; they must be actively engaged in the productive labour of sustainable tourism, green technology, and community development. By marrying theory with practice—just as Chairman Mao advocated—we can equip our young people to become self-reliant drivers of our economy rather than passive job-seekers. Through peer-to-peer exchanges between our parties, we hope to explore how China successfully linked vocational education, rural revitalization, and grassroots labour to lift millions out of poverty.
On friendship, cooperation, and global governance:
The friendship between the people of Botswana and China is historic and enduring. It is a relationship built on mutual respect, non-interference, and a shared desire for a fairer global order. As the Opposition Whip in our National Parliament, I recognize that true bilateral friendship transcends partisan lines. It is deeply enriched by party-to-party dialogue. This dialogue must reflect the very principles of modern international cooperation. As Comrade President Xi Jinping notes in The Belt and Road Initiative, pg 176. '...global economic governance should embrace openness. It should be based on open concepts, open policies, and open mechanisms so as to adapt to the changing situation. It should open to constructive suggestions, the recommendations and aspirations of different quarters of society. It should encourage the active participation and integration of various parties, reject exclusive arrangements and avoid closed governance mechanisms and fragmentation of rules.'
By opening these channels of communication and embracing this very spirit of openness, the CPC is fostering a deeper, more nuanced understanding between our two nations—one where we can openly share successes and challenges in human capital development, free from the constraints of closed or exclusive arrangements.
Conclusion
Let this 105th anniversary be a launching pad for deeper cooperation, sharper ideological exchange, and practical partnerships. May we continue to build educational and political systems that empower the worker, uplift the grassroots, and serve the true interests of our people.
On behalf of the BCP and the people of Maun West, I congratulate the Communist Party of China on this milestone. May our exchanges remain fruitful, and may the bonds of friendship between our political parties and our nations continue to flourish.
Thank you! Xiexie!