08 May 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi says Botswana’s foreign policy stance with Malawi remains firm.

President Masisi, who was on a one-day working visit to Malawi said during a press briefing in Blantyre on May 7, that bilateral relations between the two SADC nations stood firm and ready to be re-jolted and rejuvenated through the means of Joint Permanent Commission Cooperation (JPCC) which dates back to 1964.

To this end, President Masisi, together with his Malawian counterpart, Professor Authur Mutharika, instructed some ministers to expedite the holding of the JPCC meeting at the earliest time possible in Malawi.

“We have as such provided indications to the two ministers of the areas where such cooperation is needed,” he said, adding that one such area was mining governance, where Botswana stood ready to share with her SADC member state her wealth of experience spanning over 40 years.

Also, President Masisi stated that Botswana had offered her assistance and support in terms of tertiary education space within the spirit and framework of the enhancement of the SADC industrialisation strategy.

He said further Botswana would continue to offer Malawi space in terms of livestock disease and management and remained hopeful that Malawi would jump at the opportunity for the benefit of her populace.

“We will also open up and encourage our investors in tourism and mining to come and explore Malawi and will open our doors to Malawians to come to our economy and participate,” he said.

President Masisi expressed gratitude for technical assistance Malawi provided to Botswana over the years.

President Mutharika echoed President Masisi’s sentiments concerning bilateral relations.

“The cooperation of our two nations goes as far back as 1964,” he said.

He said the two countries cooperated in areas such as tourism, education and many other such trade bilateral relations.

“Although we have not met in the last five years following the Gaborone meeting, we have resolved to do so soon because there are a lot of areas we can further cooperate in for the benefit of our people,” he said.

He said Malawi could benefit a great deal from Botswana, which he stated had one of the best systems and laws in mining.

President Mutharika thanked Botswana government for being a good friend and hosting many Malawians in both the public and private sector.

“Many of our people have found a home in Botswana and to that we are grateful,” he said.

Accompanying President Masisi were Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation, Mr Vincent Seretse, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Ngaka Ngaka and Botswana Democratic Party secretary general, Mr Mpho Balopi. ENDS