Speaking at the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU Assembly) recently in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Keorapetse said collectively, with conviction and devastating agility, that they must recognise that the effectiveness of Botswana laws relies on their enforcement and implementation. Keorapetse highlighted that enforcing and implementing laws are often subject to budgetary restrictions and that there is a lack of capacity to implement them within the relevant government agencies. More on legislation, Keorapetse said the Parliament of Botswana has been central in enacting legislation that underpins social development policies and legal frameworks.
The youngest Speaker in Botswana’s history, pointed out that legislation such as the Ombudsman Act, as an example, should hold government departments to account for their actions where any injustice has been caused to members of the public. “Truly speaking, we must remove all hurdles for the achievement of good. If it's budgetary constraints, we must look for the money; if it’s bad laws, let’s change these laws. If the hindrance is people in positions of authority, let’s remove them,” he emphasised. He also revealed that other challenges that negatively affect social development and justice are limited public engagement and inadequate monitoring and evaluation. “This, too, is not a good excuse. These challenges, which I believe are not unique to Botswana, are significant but not insurmountable. If we are deliberate and have conviction anchored on the desperate aspirations of our people, nothing is impossible. We would achieve all we intend to do, and that which our people require us to do,” he told the IPU Assembly. Keorapeste said while progress has been made in enacting legislation and promoting social policies, challenges remain in ensuring that these efforts translate into tangibles for the lives of people. “By strengthening parliamentary capacity, enhancing oversight, promoting public engagement, addressing political dynamics, and improving implementation, we can contribute more effectively to building a more just, equitable, and socially developed world,” he said.
Keorapetse added that Parliaments can enhance their contribution to social development and justice by considering the following key actions: strengthening parliamentary capacity, enhancing parliamentary oversight, promoting public engagement, fostering a culture of constructive dialogue and collaboration across party lines, and improving implementation.
