On 6 August 2025, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Dithapelo L. Keorapetse, received a delegation led by Professor Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia from the UK-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) at the Parliament Buildings in Gaborone. The delegation presented the Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation, designed to promote peace, healing, and prevent violence, especially among youth.
Professor Ahluwalia highlighted the global role of forgiveness in building lasting peace. He thanked Botswana’s leadership for the opportunity to engage and share the Charter’s message.
Hon. Keorapetse praised Botswana’s strong democratic record and history of peaceful power transitions. He credited President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko’s leadership for fostering peace and reconciliation after years of single-party rule. At the same time, he acknowledged the country’s current challenge with rising violent crime and described the delegation’s visit as both timely and valuable.
Dr. Gabriel G. G. Malebang, Clerk of the National Assembly, connected the Charter’s principles to Botswana’s cultural values. He referenced Kagisano, meaning harmony, and the traditional Kgotla system, which encourages inclusive dialogue and community participation. He stressed that peace requires ongoing effort and credited Botswana’s founding values for building a peaceful and democratic nation.
The visit underlines Botswana’s commitment to peacebuilding and efforts to address emerging social challenges through both international partnerships and local traditions.
