10 May 2018

Since his ascent to power on April 1, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has paid working visits to a sizeable number of the SADC member countries with a view to introducing himself to his counterparts and also to reaffirm and deepen bilateral relations dating many years back.

President Masisi has called on countries among others, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Comoros to rekindle and fortify existing bilateral ties.

On Monday at 9am, President Masisi and a contingent of four cabinet ministers; Messrs; Vincent Seretse, Ngaka Ngaka, Tshekedi Khama and Bagalatia Arone jet touched down at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre to mark the commencement of the one-day working visit to Malawi by the Botswana delegation.

Upon disembarking OK1 (Presidential jet), President Masisi and his entourage were welcomed by Dr Emmanuel Fabiano, who is Malawi’s portfolio Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other high ranking officials among them; Botswana High Commissioner to Malawi and Zimbabwe, Rt. Lt Gen. Louis Fisher, Commander of Malawi Defence Force, General Griffin Phiri and Acting Inspector General of Malawi Police Services, Mr Rodney Jose.

As per the ceremonial ritual practiced within Commonwealth countries, President Masisi was accorded the opportunity to inspect the guard of honour mounted by Malawi Defence Force.

The guard of honour is usually presented as a mark of respect to visiting head of state and dignitaries; something President Masisi did with aplomb.

Botswana delegation was then whisked away through densely populated streets of Blantyre, where bystanders lined up the streets to try and get a glance at the visiting President.

By 10:15am, the convoy had snaked its way into Sanjika palace, where the two heads of State met and warmly greeted each before engaging in the talks. Cooperation in areas such as mining, education, tourism and good governance formed the core of the deliberations with each party pledging to play its part for the mutual benefit of people of the two countries.

Also a clarion call to expedite the holding of the two countries’ Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) which exists to enhance bilateral cooperation and review progress was agreed upon.

During the last meeting, which was held in Gaborone in 2013, there was consensus on a number of deliverables.

It was also agreed at the Gaborone JPCC that the next such meeting shall be hosted by Malawi; something both President Masisi and President Arthur Mutharika concurred needed to be done at the earliest time possible as it was overdue.

The fire in the belly in President Masisi is in harmony with the SADC industrial strategy, which is a long term project of economic and societal transformation.

The strategy envisages promoting speedy and broad based industrial development to encourage competitiveness and deeper regional integration.

Perhaps some words in his swearing in speech can confirm President Masisi’s drive and commitment on this particular subject.

He said then that Botswana would bolster its efforts to unlock market and business opportunities for her industries presented in global trade through agreements such as SADC Free Trade Area, AGOA, SACU/EU economic partnership agreement and bilateral agreements with other countries and development partners. ENDS