Delegates to the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers on the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region convened for their first plenary session on 16 June, examining how parliaments can strengthen public confidence in governance.
Proceedings were chaired by the Gambia, with Botswana introducing the topic and Uganda offering supporting remarks.
As forums for public deliberation and checks on executive power, parliaments depend on three pillars to fulfil their mandate: transparency, inclusive representation and democratic practice. Delegates agreed that where these values take root, public confidence follows; where they erode, so does the credibility of governance.
Much of the discussion was devoted to confronting declining trust in African legislatures, tracing its causes and proposing remedies.
Botswana's representative, Mr Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse, linked electoral integrity directly to legitimacy, arguing that elections falling short of being free and transparent undermine citizens' faith in representative institutions. He framed such confidence as a foundational pillar of good governance and, drawing on Botswana's democratic experience, noted that national unity is built through consultation and consensus rather than legislation alone.
Citing Afrobarometer survey data showing widespread perceptions that the wealthy and well-connected receive preferential treatment, he urged regional parliaments to prioritise ethical leadership and the protection of vulnerable groups, including women and children.
Meanwhile, Uganda's delegate, Mr Enos Asiimwe Kinywamacunda, took a more diagnostic approach, identifying corruption, weak oversight, misinformation and political polarisation as key drivers of disillusionment, noting a steady decline in legislative trust over the past two decades.
Representatives from Lesotho, South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia and other regions echoed the sentiment. Several stressed that elections alone cannot guarantee legitimacy if economic hardship persists. They pressed for stronger ethical codes, independent budget oversight bodies and regular public reporting on parliamentary performance.
Delegates concluded that restoring trust cannot rest on parliaments alone, but is a shared responsibility among parliaments, governments and citizens. Governments were urged to serve all citizens equitably and meet constitutional obligations consistently, fostering goodwill in return.
The session ended with broad agreement that accountable, effective parliaments remain the surest path to restoring public confidence in governance and that, once lost, public trust must be rebuilt through consistent accountability and responsiveness, not rhetoric.
Ngazibini Siyephu & Shiluva Mafumo
18 June 2026
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