Africa-Press – Botswana. Yesterday’s Disability Symposium brought together government officials, civil society, the private sector, and key stakeholders to reaffirm Botswana’s commitment to building an inclusive society that protects the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister for State President Hon. Moeti Caesar Mohwasa underscored the urgency of collective action. He reminded participants that while laws and conventions set the foundation, they require real implementation to have meaning. “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Persons with Disabilities Act, these are critical tools. Yet laws without heart, without real action, risk becoming mere words on paper. It is time to move beyond promises,” he said.
Minister Mohwasa encouraged the private sector to partner with government in removing invisible barriers and creating new opportunities for persons with disabilities. He added that government is committed to investing transparently and ensuring that resources are directed to where they are most needed.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for State President, Ms Goitsemang Morekisi, outlined the objectives of the symposium. These include strengthening partnerships between government, civil society, and private institutions; addressing policy gaps and challenges; drawing lessons from international forums; revising disability programmes; and promoting inclusive social protection systems. She emphasized that the forum also seeks to expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, a critical step toward their economic empowerment.
Ms Morekisi further highlighted the passage of the Persons with Disability Act in 2024 as a milestone in Botswana’s journey toward inclusivity and human rights protection. She noted that preparations for the Act’s commencement present an opportunity to deliberate on priority areas that will determine its effective enforcement. Aligning with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) remains central to this process.
The symposium reinforced that creating a society where persons with disabilities are fully included requires collaboration, accountability, and sustained action. It marked a step forward in Botswana’s broader commitment to equality and social justice.
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