16 Feb 2025

There is a lot that the African continent, which has been eluded by peace and stability can learn from the thriving democracy in Botswana, says President Advocate Duma Boko. Botswana, a multiparty democracy since independence in 1966 has, unlike other African member states been stable and blessed with an enviable development trajectory.

President Boko, who made his maiden speech at the opening of the 38^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday, expended his five-minute poetic storyline telling ‘fellow Africans about the beauty that was the government of the people for the people that flourishes in Botswana’.

President Boko, whose party, Umbrella for Democratic Change made history by trouncing Botswana Democratic Party which has been in power since independence, tallked of the seamlessness with which last October polls panned out and the subsequent transfer of power; a thing he said could be replicated across Africa. 

He said that the Botswana democracy narrative should give hope to fellow Africans that peace and security were achievable.

“I am saying this to demonstrate that democracy does exist on the African continent and we can be exemplary,” he said to the rousing applause of the packed Nelson Mandela plenary hall.

This year’s general assembly of the AU is held under the theme: Justice for the African and People of African Descent through Reparations. ENDS