PARLIAMENT INAUGURATED HISTORIC OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING The Parliament of Botswana officially inaugurated the Opening of the Legislative Meeting during the commencement of the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the 13th Parliament on 13 July 2026, establishing a historic parliamentary tradition that formally marked the beginning of Parliament's legislative business. The ceremony, the first of its kind in Botswana's history, affirmed Parliament's central role in the country's constitutional democracy following the nation's first peaceful transfer of political power. It featured addresses by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening democratic governance despite political differences. A key highlight was the Legislative Presentation, during which the Government's Legislative Priority List was formally presented to the Speaker, followed by the ceremonial introduction of Bills for First Reading. The occasion reinforced Parliament's commitment to transparency, accountability and public participation, while signifying its readiness to undertake its constitutional mandate of legislating on behalf of the people of Botswana.

Yesterday (22 July 2026), the Ministry of Health appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to account for its 2022/2023 financial performance and provide an update on the state of the health sector. The Committee raised concerns over the persistent shortage of essential medicines and delays in their distribution. Members also questioned the high value of expired and counterfeit medicines, as well as the continued shortage of healthcare workers and medical specialists. The Committee urged the Ministry to outline measures in place to address these challenges. The Committee also examined the Ministry's financial management, highlighting salary overpayments and budget over expenditure outlined in the Auditor General's report. Responding to the concerns, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Tshepo Machacha explained that delays in the distribution of some medicines were largely attributable to registration and regulatory processes administered by the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA). The Ministry assured the Committee that supplies of critical medicines including those used to treat diabetes and high blood pressure, would be available nationwide within the next two weeks.

The Ministry of Communications and Innovation yesterday (22 July 2026) appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Works, Transport and Technology to brief Members on the National Research and Innovation Council Bill, 2026. Presenting the Bill, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ms Lesego Thamae said the proposed legislation seeks to establish an autonomous National Research and Innovation Council to oversee the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Policy on Research, Development and Innovation, with the aim of accelerating Botswana's industrialisation efforts. Ms Thamae explained that the Bill also seeks to empower the Council to fund and finance research and innovation initiatives while promoting collaboration among key National System of Innovation (NSI) stakeholders, including universities, public and private research institutions, industry partners and civil society organisations. She further noted that the Council will enhance coordination among NSI actors to eliminate duplication of efforts and bridge the gap between scientific research, industrial application and societal impact. It will also oversee the generation of locally relevant knowledge and facilitate its translation into innovative products, services and solutions that contribute to national developmentnt. The briefing formed part of the Portfolio Committee's oversight mandate to review government policies and proposed legislation within its portfolio. During the engagement, Members reviewed the Bill to evaluate its effectiveness in strengthening Botswana's research and innovation landscape.