Concluding Statement of Roundtable of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Africa on Democracy and Good Governance in Africa
27 February 1997
Leaders from Commonwealth Africa today completed a two-day meeting in Botswana on democracy and good governance in Africa. It was the final stage of a four-day Roundtable on the issue which began with a preparatory meeting in Gaborone, Botswana, on 24 and 25 February involving representatives from governing and opposition parties from 18 Commonwealth countries. The meeting was organised by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
Leaders from 16 Commonwealth countries attended the Heads of Government meeting in Kasane, Botswana, on 26 and 27 February. They were Botswana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
They issued the attached concluding statement.
Roundtable of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Africa on Democracy and Good Governance in Africa
CONCLUDING STATEMENT
1. Heads of Government of Commonwealth Africa met in Kasane, Botswana, from 26-27 February 1997, at a Roundtable on Democracy and Good Governance in Africa to review progress in democratisation in their respective countries since the adoption of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration of 1991 and to exchange views on how they might meet present and future challenges. They noted that the Roundtable was the first of its kind in the Commonwealth's history, and that it underscored the importance which they attached to the promotion of democracy and good governance.
2. They received the Report of the Preparatory Meeting of the Roundtable and welcomed the fact that it was the product of a cross-section of representatives of governing and opposition parties from their respective countries. They considered the Report to be useful and worthy of wider debate in Africa and within the Commonwealth.
3. Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment to the principles contained in the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, which included the protection and promotion of democracy, democratic processes and institutions which reflect national circumstances. They stressed in particular the universally accepted ingredients of democracy which included the right of a people to elect freely their government; the primacy of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary; the right of freedom of expression and association; and the transparency and accountability of government.
4. Heads of Government agreed that in the period since the Harare Declaration, Commonwealth Africa had made considerable progress in democratic restructuring as a result of which, with only one exception, all African member countries had now moved away from military or one-party rule.
5. Nevertheless, challenges and impediments in the way of consolidating democracy remained. These included poverty and underdevelopment; tribalism and other divisive forces; the weakness of supporting institutions essential to sustainable democracy; and the brain drain which depleted the trained human resources of their countries.
6. Heads of Government declared their determination to work towards removing these impediments to the consolidation of democracy and good governance. They agreed that this required a national effort by all political leaders to cultivate a culture of tolerance, mutual respect and co-operation to promote national peace and stability.
7. In stressing the responsibility of the elected government to govern, the Heads of Government acknowledged that the Opposition had an important constructive role to fulfill in the sustenance of democracy.
8. They recognised that an effective, elected local government was an important foundation for democracy. To this end they agreed to promote the fullest participation in democracy at all levels, including by youth and people with disabilities.
9. Heads of Government recognised that the participation of women, especially at decision-making levels, is an essential ingredient of sustainable democracy.
10. Heads of Government affirmed that civic education which emphasised the rights and obligations of all — government, opposition and civil society — was an important element in the promotion and protection of democracy. However, some concern was expressed about the role of those NGOs which with foreign funding were promoting activities detrimental to stable democratic processes.
11. They stressed the importance of responsible media coverage for democracy and nation-building.
12. Heads of Government underlined that a sustainable democracy could only grow from within societies and could neither be prescribed nor imposed from outside. In expressing this belief, they referred to the experience of decolonisation in Africa and their own national struggles for political freedom which had been inspired by the desire to win democratic rights for their peoples.
13. Heads of Government greatly valued the opportunity which the Roundtable provided for the exchange of views and the sharing of experience of democratisation in their countries.
14. They expressed their appreciation to the Commonwealth Secretary-General for convening the Roundtable and hoped that they could meet again in this way to evaluate progress. In the meantime they welcomed the assistance given through the Commonwealth Secretariat to member countries in their pursuit of the Harare principles.
15. Heads of Government thanked President Sir Ketumile Masire, the Government and the people of Botswana for hosting the Roundtable and for the warmth of their hospitality.
Kasane, Botswana
27 February 1997
97/08 27 February 1997
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