21 Feb 2016

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi says it is critical that the ministry is adequately resourced.

Presenting the ministry’s budget proposals for the 2016/17 financial year, Dr Venson-Moitoi said that it was of paramount importance if Botswana was to be an effective and influential player in regional, continental and world affairs.

She also indicated that the international system in which the ministry operated was increasingly becoming complex and competitive and that necessitated the need to intensify diplomatic engagements, not only with Botswana’s traditional development partners but also with emerging strategic partners to derive maximum benefits.

“Thus, for my ministry to effectively advance Botswana’s interests abroad, the need for additional resources is an absolute necessity,” she said.

The minister also noted that the ministry’s mandate in promoting Botswana’s interests abroad as well as fostering cooperation with the international community was broad in scope because they carried out a number of activities on behalf of other ministries and institutions.

She explained that the enormity of such mandate compelled the ministry to adopt a whole-of-government approach, particularly in their facilitation and coordination role with all government institutions.

“We also collaborate with the private sector and civil society to advance the national development agenda. In other words, the continued support and cooperation of these key stakeholders remains vital if we are to succeed in making Botswana an effective and influential player in world affairs,” she added.

On other issues, the minister also indicated that last year was characterised by a number of phenomenal challenges threatening humankind.

Such challenges, she said included energy and water crisis, rising unemployment levels, climate change, increased new security threats, increased competition for foreign direct investment and development assistance.

“This array of challenges compels us more than ever before to work closely with our strategic partners as well as deeper engagement at a multilateral level in pursuit of sustainable solutions.”

She said despite the wide-ranging challenges experienced in the implementation of the ministry’s mandate, great strides had been made in a number of areas including trade and investment, high level visits, bilateral frameworks as well as development and technical assistance.

Meanwhile, the minister had requested Parliament to approve P38.6 million and over P491. 7 million for the development and recurrent budgets for the 2016/17 financial year respectively.

Dr Venson-Moitoi explained that development funds would be used for projects which included, among others, construction of Chancery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and roll out of Government Accounting and Budget System to Botswana missions as well as renovations and maintenance of government property in the missions. ENDS