There’s growing frustration and fatigue among civil society organisations (CSOs). Although the government acknowledges the value of our work – particularly around gender justice, LGBTQI+ rights and public health – it rarely includes us in decision-making processes. Inter-ministerial committees on critical issues such as GBV and the rights of the Indigenous San people were formed without civil society input, while no formal consultations with CSOs have occurred under the current administration.

Structures meant to represent us don’t function independently either. The NGO Council is in practice part of the state, while the real umbrella body for civil society, the Botswana Council of NGOs, often aligns with funding streams rather than community needs. These platforms may appear inclusive from the outside but are deliberately structured to limit genuine participation.

Government support for CSOs has historically been tied to access to donor funding. Now that Botswana has been reclassified as an upper-middle-income country and faces budget constraints, these partnerships are weakening. The resulting reduction in funding has fostered competition among CSOs, undermining solidarity and independence across civil society.

Lack of transparency around public finances is also troubling. Levies on goods such as alcohol and plastics aren’t subject to parliamentary oversight, creating opportunities for corruption and political favouritism. Many political leaders run their own foundations, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest.

People continue to be afraid to openly challenge the government. Media outlets are self-censoring and civil society voices are diminishing. Success Capital has recently experienced this first-hand.

Unfortunately, there has been no meaningful change because there’s a lack of political will to address LGBTQI+ issues and many CSOs remain silent, often due to dependence on government funding or internal struggles. The 2019 court ruling decriminalising same-sex relations was a key milestone, but our education, justice and healthcare systems continue to fail LGBTQI+ people, and no legal protections exist against discrimination or hate crimes.

LGBTQI+ people continue to face hate speech in public spaces and discrimination persists across multiple spheres, from the workplace to access to essential services and the legal system. For instance, I have three unresolved police cases, the oldest dating back more than six years.

What’s worse, technology has enabled new forms of harm. Online abuse and technology-driven GBV are increasing and mental health within the LGBTQI+ community is deteriorating. But leadership on these issues is absent and state institutions remain outdated and unresponsive.

Young LGBTQI+ people continue to speak out and organise despite the risks. At Success Capital, we take our advocacy directly to where people gather – bus stations, community meetings, markets – to counter disinformation and challenge harmful norms. We also maintain a presence in international policy forums where our government seeks legitimacy, using these platforms to remind leaders of their domestic responsibilities. Our intentionally disruptive work provokes backlash that confirms its impact.

To move forward, we urgently need equality and anti-discrimination laws, public commitments from the president and targeted support that reaches those most affected – including LGBTQI+ people with intersecting identities, such as those living with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities and young people excluded from education. Symbolic support isn’t enough. The election is over. Now it’s time for real action that improves people’s daily lives: not just those of the majority, but everyone’s.