12 Feb 2018

The 12^th session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) between Botswana and Zimbabwe has been described as a mechanism through which the two countries can broaden their scope of bilateral cooperation.

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi said at the opening of the ministerial session of the JPCC in Gaborone on February 12 that the JPCC also afforded the two countries an opportunity to stimulate bilateral cooperation and advance regional and continental agenda. 

“The convening of this JPCC is indicative of our renewed commitment to advance our bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples. 

The last JPCC between the two countries was held as far back as 2011, hence a lot has happened in terms of political and economic dynamics,” said Dr Venson-Moitoi.

Dr Venson-Moitoi indicated that there was ongoing progress in deepening cooperation in a wide range of sectors that includeed agriculture, defence and security, education, energy, environment, health, tourism, justice, labour, science and technology, trade, minerals, transport, water and sport development. 

Dr Venson-Moitoi said the recent opening of the Mabolwe-Mlambaphele border post would go a long way in facilitating the movement of fellow citizens, goods and services across the common borders.

Meanwhile, she commended Zimbabweans for taking an initiative and courage to usher in a new political dispensation that she said had displayed a high level of political maturity, determination and good conduct that was admired by many and the world at large.

“We are also encouraged by the clear vision of the new leadership in Zimbabwe to place the country on a path to sustainable economic development and prosperity. 

We have no doubt that working together both at bilateral and regional levels, Zimbabwe will ultimately reclaim her rightful place in the international economic system,” she said. 

For his part Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Lt Gen. Sibusiso Moyo said the two countries shared a common destiny by dint and nature and of history because Zimbabweans and Batswana were interlinked through blood, geography, culture and marriages. 

He called upon the two countries to manage their relations not just for the present, but for posterity.

“We last met seven years ago as JPCC, hence we lost much during that period. We therefore have much to recover and to move with haste in doing so,” he said.

He said he was encouraged by the spirit that continued to hold even as the JPCC sessions were dormant between the two countries in areas such as environment and wildlife, mines, agriculture and other sectors maintained through contacts and cooperation both at bilateral levels and in the contexts of regional programmes of cooperation. 

“We must now ramp up these contacts, regularly at the bilateral level as a number of agreements and MoUs are still under negotiation between our two countries,” he said.

Thus, he said it was imperative that the agreements were concluded within the shortest possible time so that once signed and through their implementation they would witness concrete actions on the ground.

“Our ultimate goal is the improvement of our people’s livelihoods and the overall development of our two countries and our regional partners. 

This will contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in our region,” he said. The JPCC paves way for the two-day state visit to Botswana by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. BOPA