Acting President and Chairman of the Rural Development Council (RDC), Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, has called for urgent transformation in Botswana’s local government system, warning that gradual change is no longer enough.
Speaking at the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Symposium under the theme, ‘Re-engineering the Role of Local Government in Democracy and the Developmental Agenda’, Mr Gaolathe stressed that councils must evolve beyond administrative structures. He said they should serve as engines of economic transformation, digital innovation, and citizen-led accountability.
Mr Gaolathe pointed to the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) as the blueprint for what he described as a ‘New Botswana’. He outlined the vision of a high-income, digitally-enabled, export-driven and inclusive society, insisting that councils must align their operations with this national agenda.
“This is not just reform, it is renewal,” he declared, drawing attention to the urgency of the shift required. He reminded participants that Batswana are not asking government to preserve outdated systems but to deliver meaningful improvements in their daily lives. “Our people are not asking us to maintain systems; they are asking us to transform lives,” he said.
The Acting President’s call comes at a time when communities across Botswana are demanding faster service delivery, stronger economic opportunities, and more transparent governance. By challenging councils to embrace innovation and accountability, Mr Gaolathe set a clear tone for the symposium and signaled that the pace of change in local government must accelerate.
His message placed emphasis on the role of councils as frontline institutions of democracy and development. He urged local leaders to take bold steps in aligning policies with the national transformation agenda, ensuring that every decision contributes to building a resilient and future-ready Botswana.
