19 Mar 2025

Botswana seeks to meaningfully participate in global affairs through foreign policy which is informed by the principles of non-alignment, diplomacy, peaceful resolution of conflicts, socio-economic development and multilateralism.

The Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale said this while presenting his ministry’s budget proposal that was approved by the Parliamentary Committee of Supply yesterday. Dr Butale said despite being a small nation, Botswana sought to positively influence the world and aspired to be a middle power, which in international relations refers to a state which holds a position of less influence than a superpower or great power, but still with sufficient ability to shape global discourse.

Before unanimously voting in favour of the ministry budget proposal, MPs concurred with the minister that Botswana's voice in global affairs needs to be heard. Specially elected MP also Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said Botswana should focus on strategic interests in choosing where to locate the country's foreign missions.

He noted that countries to the east had become important as global economic players and their political influence is also strong, and Botswana needs to position herself to work closely with such states.

Mr Mohwasa said Botswana should by now be having an embassy in Russia, a country that had long set up a diplomatic mission in Gaborone, assisted generations of Batswana with educational scholarships, and a global power that is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

He said while Botswana's foreign policy posture was that of a non-aligned state, this should not preclude the country from voicing out principled positions guided by the values of democracy, human rights and global multilateralism.

Another specially elected MP and the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo said Botswana had seasoned career diplomats no longer in the foreign service, and urged the minister to bring them back to serve in the country's foreign missions and the head office.

She geopolitical tensions currently playing out globally needed seasoned career diplomats who could assist the country navigate such challenges. Ms Kenewendo also said Botswana should populate some of the world's multilateral organisations with some of its most experienced personnel, which would help the country participate and have a voice in global institutions. She said Botswana should utilise the world's media to market the country to global audiences, since the country has many positives to tell the world.

The Leader of Opposition (LOO), Mr Dumelang Saleshando called for appoint of mostly career diplomats to foreign missions. He said commitment to human rights based international relations should mean the country should be able to publicly pronounce a position regarding violation of people's rights in places such as Palestine and Eswatini.

On trade influenced foreign policy, Mr Saleshando said the country's diplomatic missions should work on ensuring that the country aimed to create value addition export industry and open up markets to ensure the country's resources are utilised to create jobs domestically instead of the sale of raw materials.

Gabane-Mmankgodi MP, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said Botswana's participation in regional and global multilateral organisations was exemplary, including the country's effort in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).

Mr Mmusi added that he was disappointed that both the Ministry of International Relations and that of Trade and Entrepreneurship had not mentioned the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events. ENDS