10 Apr 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi says his visit to Zimbabwe was to deepen existing bilateral relations between the two countries following his ascendency to the presidency.

Addressing the media after a working meeting with his Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa on April 9, Mr Masisi said Botswana and Zimbabwe bilateral relations went a way back and that the visit was, “to touch base with our neighbour since taking over from President Khama.”

President Masisi said that Botswana was at peace with Zimbabwe.

President Masisi further said the trip also served to reassure and pay respect to President Mnangagwa.

“It has been a rewarding experience and president Mnangagwa was very generous as he has invited me for a state visit later in the year,” President Masisi said of the visit.

He indicated that the two countries would also hold national joint commission operations later in the year, which he said “would not only forge to further strengthen ties between our two nations but our people as well.”

He further added that he had taken with him ministers of defence, justice and security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, international affairs and cooperation, Mr Vincent Seretse, transport and communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila and other government officials to introduce them and further solidify bilateral relations.

“Our visit was very delightful and we had fruitful discussions with President Mnangagwa,” he said.

Botswana has in the past signed numerous bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Some of these agreements provide duty free and quota free market access, while some accord preferential market access to Botswana’s goods and services.

The visit was superseded by a visit to another SADC neighbour, Namibia. BOPA