Botswana Speaks highlighted at the World e-Parliament Conference 2014, Seoul

The opportunities and risks of using social media was the red line running through the conference. Members on every continent are grappling with ways to make effective use to social networks to engage citizens in authentic conversation about the issues that matter to them.

The presentation by Hon. Motlhale from Botswana was a great demonstration of how parliament can use SMS messages to listen to the people.

More details here

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When Nata/Gweta constituents welcomed the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Project...

April 2013 - Nata/Gweta constituents have welcomed the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Project during its pilot launch, and suggested they be allowed access to the constituency office to relay their grievances.

Kgosi Pelontle Mokgadi of Manxotae settlement, said people failed to utilise Member of Parliaments' constituency offices because of lack of knowledge on its purpose

(photo: Botswana Daily News)

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative Newsletter Issue No.5, December 2013 - check it out!

Read the full version of the fifth issue here and find out all project news and upcoming events!

 

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative Newsletter Issue No.5, December 2013 - check it out!

Read the full version of the fifth issue here and find out all project news and upcoming events!

 

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Botswana Speaks paper at the Joint Conference of IFIP EGOV 2013 & IFIP ePart 2013, Sept.19th 2013

"Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative: Paving the Way Towards Better Constituency Services in Botswana" paper was presented by Kheira Belkacem, Assistant Programme Director, presented on September 19th, 2013 from 14 to 15.30 at the Joint Conference of IFIP EGOV 2013 & IFIP ePart 2013.

Proceedings and the paper will be available here

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Botswana Speaks paper will be presented at the Joint Conference of IFIP EGOV 2013 & IFIP ePart 2013, 15-19 September 2013, Koblenz, Germany

"Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative: Paving the Way Towards Better Constituency Services in Botswana" paper will be presented on September 19th, 2013 from 14 to 15.30 during the Joint Conference of IFIP EGOV 2013 & IFIP ePart 2013.

More details will follow in the next days!

Programme of the conference

Website of the conference

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Botswana Speaks PRESS RELEASE posted on ePractice!

The press release of Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative which was published yesterday appears on ePractice blog!

Check it out here!

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PRESS RELEASE: SIDA Programme Manager meets with the Botswana Speaks Parliament team

Brussels, 05/09/13 – On Tuesday 27 August 2013, SIDA Programme Manager visited the Parliament of Botswana in order to follow up on the implementation and progress of the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative so far.

The SIDA representative started her visit by meeting with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Ms Barbara Dithapo. She was informed on the achievements and the remaining challenges of the project. Ms Barbara Dithapo highlighted the Parliament’s commitment to this project, saying that “In Botswana, the majority of citizens don’t vote during General Elections. Botswana Speaks will assist in getting them involved and enhancing our democratic process”, thus emphasizing that the project’s success is of utmost importance for Botswana.

The four Members of Parliament involved in the pilot phase of the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative, Hon. Rayner Makosha (Nata/Gweta), Hon. Odirile Motlhale (South East South), Hon. Tawana Moremi (Maun West) and Hon. Slumber Tsogwane (Boteti North) also met with the SIDA Programme Manager during the same day. They expressed their satisfaction and gratitude towards the funding opportunity provided by the Swedish Agency.

The full version of the press release is available in English and translated versions!

Botswana_Speaks_Press_Release_05.09.2013_final_ENG.pdf

Botswana_Speaks_Press_Release_05-09-2013_final_TRANS.pdf

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More than 10 ongoing polls on Speaks4Yourself platform! Sign in and give your opinion!

There are more than 10 ongoing polls on Speaks4Yourself platform!
Such as:

- Live broadcasting of Parliament debates

- One-Stop Border Posts Bill

- Establishement of a Statutory Body to ...

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative presented at IST-Africa 2013 Conference, 29th - 31st May 2013, Nairobi, Kenya

Louis Papaemmanuel, eGovlab, presented the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative at IST-Africa 2013 Conference during on 29th May 2013, during a session on eGovernment. More

IST-Africa 2013 Agenda

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative proudly presents its 3rd Newsletter Issue!

The Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative is now running its pilot phase and all Batswana are invited to sign up, to view ongoing polls, to discuss and debate issues that concern them!

These past months have been very fruitful for the project. Among other activities undertaken, the initiative was successfully presented in various international conferences in Africa, United States and Europe and a lot of interest and visibility was raised. Concurrently, meetings with local authorities in the four pilot constituencies were on focus during this period as a way to raise awareness about the launch of the pilot phase. Media outlets in Botswana like Mmegi and Daily News covered the launch of the pilot phase and qualified Botswana Speaks as an interactive platform that leads to better constituency services.

Enjoy our newsletter issue and get updated on the project’s news, upcoming events and other relevant news! Stay always abreast of the project’s news by following us on social media!

The latest issue is available here

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative proudly presents its 3rd Newsletter Issue!

The Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative is now running its pilot phase and all Batswana are invited to sign up, to view ongoing polls, to discuss and debate issues that concern them!

These past months have been very fruitful for the project. Among other activities undertaken, the initiative was successfully presented in various international conferences in Africa, United States and Europe and a lot of interest and visibility was raised. Concurrently, meetings with local authorities in the four pilot constituencies were on focus during this period as a way to raise awareness about the launch of the pilot phase. Media outlets in Botswana like Mmegi and Daily News covered the launch of the pilot phase and qualified Botswana Speaks as an interactive platform that leads to better constituency services.

Enjoy our newsletter issue and get updated on the project’s news, upcoming events and other relevant news! Stay always abreast of the project’s news by following us on social media!

The latest issue is available here

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PRESS RELEASE:Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative launched its pilot phase!

Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative has launched its pilot phase.
The participative platform is now live!

Constituents from Nata/Gweta, Boteti North, Maun West or South East South, can use U-Speak to share an issue, an opinion or request information to their Member of Parliament. Also, they can submit an issue via the online platform or send it via SMS!

Citizens from other constituencies can also take part in Botswana Speaks! Citizens can use Speak4Yourself to discuss, debate issues and legislation that is currently discussed in the Parliament. All Members of Parliament can participate in these debates and receive input!

The launch of the pilot phase has been announced in Botswana at:
- A Press Conference for the launch of the pilot phase, April 8th 2013
- Training Workshops with MPs and Parliament Staff, April 9th 2013
- Constituency Tour and mini-launches in Maun, Rakops, Nata and Ramotswa, April 11th – 16th 2013

To read the press release click below:
Read the English version

Read the translated version

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Botswana Speaks: A quantum leap - article on Mmegi online

Mmegi Online article mentions Botswana Speaks platform launch. On April 10th Parliament was scheduled to launch Botswana Speaks, a pilot participatory website initiative aimed at facilitating interaction between members of the public and their elected representatives online and via mobile phones' Short Messaging System (SMS).

Styled Botswana Speaks, the pilot project was to be launched alongside a public lecture at the University of Botswana's (UB) Library Auditorium explaining - and celebrating - this quantum leap.  According to advance information on the project, the pilot phase of Botswana Speaks is run from this month until December.  Four constituencies - the South East South, Nata/Gweta, Maun West and Boteti North - have been selected for the test run of the project after which it is to be rolled out countrywide.

The key objectives of this project - to get citizens better connected with their elected representatives and render to them an opportunity to get involved in the national decision-making process - are immensely laudable.  For example, when Parliament is debating a bill, the public should be able to comment on the bill even in real time.

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Meeting with local authorities in Ramotswa (South East South)

Welcoming remarks were done by Kgosi Mosadi Seboko, the Paramount Chief of the area. Hon. Odirile Motlhale, Member of Parliament for South East South then presented the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative together with Antoine Brasset from Gov2u.
Representatives of local governments were present (district council, sub-district council, tribal authorities, police…) at the meeting and all were very enthusiastic about the Botswana Speaks Initiative and were looking forward to using the platform, as they have many concerns to raise to their MP (i.e. gravel roads, education system etc…).
The Botswana Speaks platform will allow citizens from Nata/Gweta, South East South, Maun West and Boteti North to share their input and opinions on issues that concern them directly with their Members of Parliament (MPs). This online platform goes together with the organization of constituency meetings in those four constituencies to gather citizens' inputs offline to then be made available to MPs online. One of the aims of this initiative in those four constituencies is to improve constituency services. At the same time, the platform will enable citizens from the whole country to take part in discussions on legislation as discussed in the National Assembly.

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Meeting with local authorities in Sowa Town (Nata/Gweta)

The presentation of the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative to the local authorities in Sowa Town was a fair success with about 30 people attending the meeting. Two members of the Botswana Speaks Team presented the project to the audience together with Hon. Makosha. The audience agreed that despite technological challenges in the region, the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative was an opportunity that should not be left to pass by. Lots of questions were asked and comments were made that showed a clear understanding of the concept behind the Botswana Speaks initiative.
The local authorities appreciated the fact that the Parliament found it necessary to explain the project and requested the Botswana Speaks team to come back to maintain contact between the initiative and the local authorities.

        

Meeting with local authorities, Sowa Town, Wednesday 27 February 2013

 

 

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Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative is awarded the epractice editor’s choice 2012

 

Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative gets a ‘thumbs up’ and a grand star from the European Commission’s ePractice.eu editing team.

Supported by the Commission, the ePractice community runs its own editorial line. Through a large think-tank base of real life case studies submitted by members from across Europe, ePractice.eu gives access to the exchange of good practice experiences.

 So, it is with great honour that the Botswana Speaks Parliamentary Initiative accepts the Editor’s Choice Award for 2012!

The full version of the project's case in ePractice is available here.

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