Botswana’s President Duma Boko has urged citizens to embrace unity and collective action as a means to safeguard peace and harmony both at home and across the globe.
Delivering a national address broadcast live on Botswana Television to mark the country’s 59th Independence Day on Tuesday, September 30, Boko called on Batswana to be patriotic, reflective, and forward-looking.
He underscored that Africa’s path to lasting peace, tranquillity, and sustainable development lies in unity, declaring, “We are stronger when we are united and working in unison.”
Boko drew on recent political history to highlight the power of solidarity, noting how the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) — a coalition of the Botswana National Front, the Botswana People’s Party, and the Alliance for Progressives — achieved a historic victory in the National Assembly elections on 30 October last year. Under Boko’s leadership, the coalition defeated the Botswana Democratic Party, which had governed since the country’s independence in 1966. The president portrayed this milestone as a testament to what can be accomplished when diverse groups work together toward a shared vision.
In a move to promote inclusivity and cultural pride, Boko on Monday launched four news bulletins in indigenous languages on state-owned broadcasting platforms. This initiative seeks to celebrate and preserve Botswana’s linguistic heritage, ensuring that all communities see their identities reflected in national discourse. By combining a call for unity with tangible steps to honour cultural diversity, President Boko framed his Independence Day message as both a tribute to Botswana’s past and a blueprint for its collective future.