Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Zoom Online Civil Society Working Group Meeting Tuesday 9 June 2020, 14:30-16:30 Report

The report details a consultation between the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), and various civil society organisations (CSOs) to determine the focus of Botswana's APRM submission. Based on a non-scientific survey of 24 CSOs, the meeting identified approximately 20 major governance concerns, including the lack of separation of powers, rampant corruption, and high inequality. The group discussed the need to narrow these down to 12 key issues, debating whether the final submission should adopt a problem-solving tone or remain critical of the government. Participants from Zambia and Namibia provided comparative perspectives on evidence-based submissions and common regional issues like gender-based violence and land reform.

• Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Botswana identified the separation of powers as a dominant concern, arguing that the legislature lacks independence and that the President possesses overarching powers under section 41 and section 47 of the Botswana Constitution, which can lead to impunity.
• Corruption is described as "rampant" and growing in Botswana, driven by a lack of transparency and institutional governance, with specific concerns that public officers share tender information to disadvantage private competitors.
• Botswana is noted as the third most unequal country globally according to a 2010 World Bank Report, with high poverty levels persisting despite its status as an upper-middle income country, particularly in rural areas.
• The extractive sector is the country's economic backbone, but it is characterized by a "veil of secrecy" and a lack of government control, resulting in pollution and a lack of consultation with mining-affected communities.
• There are significant gaps in human rights and gender equality, including the prevalence of the death penalty, low female political representation despite the SADC Gender Protocol, and a lack of legalisation for abortion.
• CSOs reported a restrictive civic space where the government shuts down organisations that raise "thorny issues," coupled with a lack of a Freedom of Information Act and limited funding for CSOs.
• The meeting highlighted a need for public sector and oversight reform, noting that many key accounting officers—including those for the Auditor General and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC)—lack independence because they report to the Office of the President.

APA

Zikalala, N. M. (2020). Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Zoom Online Civil Society Working Group Meeting Tuesday 9 June 2020, 14:30-16:30 Report. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAPS-Report-Identifying-the-Issues.pdf

Chicago

Zikalala, Nhlakanipho Macmillan. Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Zoom Online Civil Society Working Group Meeting Tuesday 9 June 2020, 14:30-16:30 Report. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAPS-Report-Identifying-the-Issues.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zikalala |first1=Nhlakanipho Macmillan |title=Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Zoom Online Civil Society Working Group Meeting Tuesday 9 June 2020, 14:30-16:30 Report |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=9 June 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAPS-Report-Identifying-the-Issues.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zikalala2020botswana, author = {Zikalala, Nhlakanipho Macmillan}, title = {{Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Zoom Online Civil Society Working Group Meeting Tuesday 9 June 2020, 14:30-16:30 Report}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BAPS-Report-Identifying-the-Issues.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }