Botswana’s new government which was swept into power on promises of reform and respect for constitutional rights is presiding over an environment where civil society continues to face intimidation, restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles, a new report has revealed.
The report, Enabling Environment Snapshot Botswana December 2025, published by EU SEE, paints a troubling picture of persistent constraints on civic freedoms despite political change following the October 2024 general elections.
‘Botswana’s civil society operates in a dynamic, yet challenging environment,’ the report which was funded by the European Union (EU) states. It warns that ‘events in 2025, such as interference and intimidation from the intelligence services, have constrained civic space.’ The report highlights how administrative powers continue to be used to block civic activism, citing a decision by authorities in August 2025 to deny Student Power Botswana permission to march in Gaborone over student allowances. ‘The Botswana Police Service denied approval, citing a clash with a national event requiring heavy police deployment, and advised students to reschedule,’ the report notes. It says this incident ‘demonstrates how administrative decisions under the Public Order Act continue to limit freedom of assembly, even for peaceful demonstrations.’ The law itself remains a major obstacle. According to the report, ‘the Public Order Act also continues to restrict civic space. Its requirement for police permits for peaceful assemblies and the possibility of having permits denied hinders CSOs’ ability to mobilise, hold events, and advocate.’
Beyond legal restrictions, civil society organisations are also grappling with intimidation and dwindling financial support. The report points to ‘interference and intimidation from the intelligence services’ and warns that resource constraints have worsened because Botswana’s middle-income status has led donors to redirect funding elsewhere. ‘Civil society actors face hurdles such as resource constraints exacerbated by the country’s middle-income status, as donors have redirected their funds to other countries which are low income and perceived to be in greater need of support,’ it states.
Even basic administrative processes remain problematic. The report says civil society organisations ‘continued to encounter difficulties with registration,’ despite the introduction of a digital system meant to simplify procedures. ‘Frequent system malfunctions often require submitting documents physically,’ it says, adding that organisations outside Gaborone are particularly disadvantaged because registration processes ‘remain highly centralised.’
While the government has launched a constitutional review and proposed the establishment of a Constitutional Court through Constitution Amendment Bill No. 14 of 2025, civil society groups remain sceptical. The report notes that civil society considers such a court ‘in principle essential,’ but warns that introducing it without broader reforms would limit its impact. ‘Introducing a Constitutional Court in isolation means it will operate within the confines of a constitution that has already been found to contain significant gaps in the Bill of Rights,’ it states.
The government has allowed civil society participation in technical working groups, showing that engagement is possible. However, the report says such engagement is inconsistent. ‘Civil society. reported a lack of meaningful consultations, engagement, and transparency,’ it says, adding that organisations condemned ‘limited civic education and engagements.’
Despite opportunities for collaboration, the report concludes that ‘early indications under the new government. show that restrictions on civic expression continue.’ The findings suggest that for Botswana’s civil society, political change has yet to translate into meaningful freedom.