20 May 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi says his recent trips to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have cemented the existing strong bilateral ties.

Speaking in an interview after arriving from eSwatini, President Masisi said the purpose of the visits was to reinforce and commit to existing agreements.

He also noted that the agreements were beneficial to the development of the countries and their people.

He gave the example of the education sector, saying Botswana, Lesotho and eSwatini would continue to collaborate.

He added that the three countries would forever use the Institute of Development Management (IDM) as their resource centre.

President Masisi was accompanied First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr Vincent Seretse, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama and Kgosi Puso of Batlokwa.

He said the visits also exposed further opportunities for tourism and trade in other commodities, noting that the Kingdom of eSwatini produced a lot of sugar and pine apples which could be used in secondary industries.

President Masisi also urged trading companies among the SADC countries to create a conducive atmosphere to conduct business while remaining reputable and committed towards creating business and growth.

He noted that Botswana and eSwatini could learn from each other’s cultural exploits for the sustainable growth of their cultural tourism.

In the meantime, Kgosi Puso said since Batlokwa were planning to construct a royal palace, he had the opportunity to visit the eSwatini Roya Palace.

He said he was mesmerised by its beauty and setting, and that it gave him an idea of how theirs should look like.

Plans are afoot to construct a Batlokwa royal palace and a plot has been secured. ENDS