24 May 2016

Botswana and Mozambique’s friendship and cooperation is pivotal in promotion of peace and tranquility within the Southern African region.

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, who is in Mozambique for a three-day state visit, said yesterday that the bilateral relations between the two countries were rooted in strong historical ties.

Such ties, he said, laid a solid foundation for strengthening the relationship between the two countries and assisting in fostering regional integration.

The President said it was incumbent upon the current generation to preserve the legacy left by the founding fathers by standing united in pursuing a common goal. 

He said Botswana regarded Mozambique as a strategic partner in economic growth; hence establishment of bilateral mechanisms such as the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC) and the resident diplomatic missions.

President Khama, therefore, called for speedy implementation of key projects such as the development of a deep sea port and a railway line linking Botswana and Mozambique.

Completion of the development corridor would not only benefit the partner countries, but would also contribute to greater regional integration, he said.

President Khama urged the leadership of both countries to ensure full implementation of the outcomes of such an impotent bilateral mechanism as JPCC in order to elevate the already thriving bilateral cooperation to the next level.

The close cooperation between the two nations, he said, had facilitated decision making at regional level in addressing the political and security challenges in the region.

 Meanwhile, he said the region continued to face a number of challenges ranging from poverty and unemployment to persistent drought and acute shortage of water and electricity.

 He said, as part of the SADC programme this year, it was necessary to come up with some remedial initiatives geared towards addressing some of the challenges affecting the region.

  To remedy the challenges, President Khama said, it was important for frequent regional ministerial seminars relating to energy and water crisis, poverty eradication and food security as well as illegal trade of wildlife species ENDS