BENCHMARKING FOR BETTER PARLIAMENTS: MALAWI DELEGATION VISITS BOTSWANA The National Assembly of Botswana on Monday, 27 July 2026, welcomed a six-member delegation from the Parliament of Malawi, led by Deputy Clerk Ms Sophie Dambe, who paid a courtesy call on the Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Gabriel G.G. Malebang, and the Executive Management Team as part of a benchmarking visit. Welcoming the delegation, Dr Malebang said the visit reflects the shared commitment of the two Parliaments to strengthening parliamentary democracy, institutional capacity and good governance through collaboration and the exchange of best practices. He encouraged both institutions to use the visit to share knowledge, learn from each other's experiences and build stronger professional partnerships for improved parliamentary service delivery. Dr Malebang further noted that the Parliament of Botswana is undergoing a significant transformation following the change of Government eighteen months ago. He said the leadership of the Speaker and the Clerk is driving an ambitious vision to build a modern, high-performing Parliament that delivers excellence in legislation, oversight, representation and public engagement. Speaking on behalf of the Malawi delegation, Ms Dambe expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and professionalism extended by the National Assembly of Botswana. She said observing proceedings in the Chamber and learning about Botswana's bilingual Hansard translation system had been particularly insightful, noting that Malawi is exploring the introduction of local languages into its parliamentary business and would continue to look to Botswana for lessons. She also highlighted Malawi's experience with its Parliament Act and Parliamentary Service Commission, expressing confidence that both Parliaments would benefit from sharing their respective best practices. The benchmarking visit is expected to further strengthen the longstanding relations between the Parliaments of Botswana and Malawi while promoting innovation, institutional learning and parliamentary excellence across the region.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for its financial performance for the 2022/2023 financial year. During the examination, the Committee sought progress updates on the implementation of the city tourism initiative, the review of the human-wildlife conflict policy, improvements to employees' conditions of service and efforts to address the continued under-resourcing of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Briefing the Committee, Permanent Secretary Ms. Abigail Khumoyame reported that the review of the human-wildlife conflict policy, together with the compensation rates, has been completed following extensive stakeholder consultations. She noted that owing to financial and resource constraints, the Ministry is exploring the establishment of an independent fund, supported by development partners, to sustain the newly enhanced compensation rates. Ms. Khumoyame further informed the Committee that the Ministry is developing a Wildlife Service Act aimed at addressing the unique operational requirements of the Wildlife Service, improving conditions of service and strengthening the capacity of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. In its resolutions, the Committee directed the Ministry and Auditor General that a comprehensive investigation be conducted into the Ministry's aircraft fleet, focusing on procurement processes, maintenance and servicing, as well as aircraft storage costs to ensure value for money and accountability.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has resumed its 62nd Examinations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), which commenced on 14 July 2026 and will continue until 6 August 2026. The examinations are conducted daily from 0830 hours to 1300 hours and form part of Parliament's oversight responsibility to examine the use of public funds and promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in the management of public resources. Members of the public are encouraged to follow the proceedings through Parliament's official communication platforms for updates on the Committee's work.