Botswana Congress Party (BCP) leader Dumelang Saleshando has accused the UDC government of betraying its promise of a “people-led constitutional review,” saying President Duma Boko’s administration has offered only piecemeal reforms and “flawed consultations.”
In his Alternative State of the Nation Address, Saleshando said the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 14 of 2025, which created a Constitutional Court, was a distraction from the comprehensive overhaul Batswana were promised.
“This bill was rejected not only by civil society but by Ntlo ya Dikgosi,” he told Parliament. “Batswana expected participatory reform to modernise governance, not a cosmetic prelude to a referendum postponed to 2026.”
Saleshando urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and legislate a credible, inclusive process. He proposed a Constitutional Review Act that would outline procedural mechanisms for citizen participation, and a national public-education campaign to prepare citizens for meaningful input.
The BCP leader also called for reforms to strengthen oversight institutions including the DCEC, EID, DIS, and Ombudsman, warning that corruption and lack of transparency were undermining public trust.
“The sovereignty of Botswana resides with its people,” he said. “Without empowering citizens through education, constitutional reform will only represent minority views.”
The BCP leader also called for reforms to strengthen oversight institutions including the DCEC, EID, DIS, and Ombudsman, warning that corruption and lack of transparency were undermining public trust.
“The government cannot claim to be reforming while resorting to direct tender awards and ignoring oversight,” he said. “Accountability is not optional, it is the foundation of democracy.”
Saleshando’s remarks revived a long-running debate over how to modernise Botswana’s 1966 Constitution to reflect changing democratic expectations. While President Boko has touted the creation of a Constitutional Court as “a step toward judicial empowerment,” opposition parties view it as window-dressing.
Saleshando urged the government to honour its campaign commitments “not with speeches, but with sincerity.” “Batswana were promised transparency and participation,” he said. “Instead, they see secrecy and executive control.”
