Mr. Phazha Butale

Board Member

Mr. Phazha Butale has served as Botswana’s Chief Negotiator since 2013, leading the national team in trade negotiations with third-party states. His portfolio spans landmark agreements that have significantly advanced Botswana’s international market access, including:

SADC–EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
SACUM–UK EPA (SACU, Mozambique, and UK)
Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement
Other regional and bilateral trade arrangements

Currently, Mr. Butale leads Botswana’s negotiating team in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) discussions, guiding the country’s position on regional integration and market liberalization.

With over two decades of expertise in international trade law and policy, Mr. Butale has earned recognition for his strategic insight and negotiation acumen—successfully safeguarding Botswana’s trade interests in complex bilateral and multilateral environments. He began his legal career at the Attorney General Chambers, specializing in the International and Commercial Division.

His academic credentials include:

Master of Laws (LLM) in Commercial Law – University of Cape Town (2007), with specializations in International Trade, Advanced Company Law (Securities), Competition Law, and Commercial Arbitration
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) – University of Botswana
Postgraduate Diploma in Trade Policy and WTO Law – University of Nairobi (2004)

Mr. Butale’s leadership continues to shape Botswana’s role in global and regional trade frameworks, ensuring the nation’s goods and services remain competitive and compliant across diverse markets.