The government has moved to dismantle decades of centralised governance with the tabling of the Twelfth National Development Plan (NDP12), which places decentralisation and local empowerment at the centre of Botswana’s transformation agenda.

Presenting the plan in Parliament, Minister for State President Moeti  Mohwasa said past development plans failed largely due to an overly centralised public service structure that limited responsiveness to community needs. He announced that under NDP12, the government will fully implement the National Decentralisation Policy to give local authorities financial independence, planning authority, and control over development execution.

“This policy marks a significant milestone in our democratic journey,” Mohwasa said, emphasising that going forward, planning and development will no longer be dictated solely from Gaborone. Local councils and district administrations will be equipped with decision-making power and capacity to implement projects directly, backed by performance-based monitoring systems.

The Minister said district performance structures, sector labs, and community-based monitoring platforms will be strengthened to ensure that citizens participate in identifying projects and holding authorities accountable. He acknowledged past failures in service delivery, noting that community satisfaction levels remain below 60 percent across most evaluation cycles.

“We intend to change not just the process, but the political culture. Government must be closer to the people not just in language, but in structure and practice,” he said.