Gaborone – President Duma Boko has issued a clarion call for a bold and transformative shift in Botswana’s public service leadership, urging senior accounting officers to embody integrity, accountability, and decisiveness rooted in legal frameworks. Delivering a powerful address, the President outlined a new vision for governance that demands courage, ethical conviction, and a departure from outdated ideologies.
Speaking to top-tier public servants, President Boko reflected on Botswana’s historical trajectory, lamenting the nation’s missed opportunities during the diamond boom of the 1980s. He emphasized that despite the country’s vast resource wealth, more could have been done to secure long-term, inclusive prosperity for future generations.
“We must be born again,” he declared. “We need a new mindset—one that rejects imported neoliberal frameworks and prioritizes solutions designed for Botswana’s unique context.”
The President underscored the importance of public officers knowing and respecting the laws that govern their roles. “Go back to the governing legislation. It defines your scope and authority,” he urged, emphasizing that legality must be the foundation of all decision-making.
President Boko highlighted the dangers of leadership paralysis, warning against inaction motivated by fear of repercussions. Instead, he encouraged public servants to take timely, well-reasoned decisions in good faith, assuring them that honest mistakes made with integrity are defensible.
“There’s a clear difference between an honest mistake and misconduct,” he said. “If your decisions are made without malice and can be explained with clarity and principle, you have nothing to fear.”
The President concluded with a powerful reminder to remain focused, ethical, and free from undue influence. “Act without malice, and be ready to explain your decisions,” he said. “Let us lead with purpose and build a public service that is courageous, innovative, and committed to Botswana’s development.”
President Boko’s address signals a new era of governance aimed at strengthening public institutions, fostering leadership excellence, and driving Botswana’s journey toward a sustainable and inclusive future.
