02 Dec 2019

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has made great strides in foreign relations key result areas.

Contributing to the State-of-Nation Address on recently, Minister Dr Unity Dow said since assuming office, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had continued to break new ground in effectively steering international cooperation to advance the economic agenda of the country.

She said the country had strengthened bilateral diplomacy through engagement with immediate neighbours in the quest to build better relations.

In this regard, Dr Dow said state visits to various countries, including Mozambique, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Poland, Switzerland, China, and Kenya had provided a platform for engagements in wide-ranging sectors of the economy. 

These, she said, included among others increased business interests to Botswana, the prospect of major airlines poised to fly to Botswana (Qatar and Kenya airways).

She further said the country had hosted several high level visits from other countries such as the state visits by the President of Germany, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Mr Paul Kagame of Rwanda, visit by German parliamentarians, official visit by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs of Ireland, Ms Catherine Zappone who also had the opportunity to meet with the First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi.

Dr Dow said the country also convened bilateral meetings such as the Joint Permanent Commissions for Cooperation (JPCCs) with some being elevated to the level of Bi-National Commissions (BNCs). 

“These include the inaugural BNC with Zimbabwe as well as JPCCs with Kenya and Mozambique. These have served to harness and enhance the areas of cooperation with the countries in question,” she stated.

Dr Dow said she also undertook official visits to Georgia, Russia, Vietnam and Japan in the quest to further expand Botswana’s strategic partnerships.

She said while in Georgia, she witnessed an efficient citizen public service centre which made decentralisation of services effective, something which she suggested could work for Botswana.

Furthermore, she said the ministry had also opened a resident mission in France.

On the global level, Dr Dow said Botswana continued to participate actively in forging multilateral outcomes that contributed to global security, the rule of law, strengthened international frameworks and inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Consequently, she said Botswana actively participated in meetings and conferences, both regionally and internationally which provided an opportunity for Botswana to influence collective decisions that shaped the course of multilateral relations and have a bearing on strategic national interests.

On economic diplomacy, she said the ministry continued to facilitate and welcome interested parties to invest in Botswana as well as other government ministries’ engagements with the private sector across the world.In this regard, she said over six impactful business forums have taken place which have contributed to heighten the interest to invest in Botswana that included among others, business forums hosted with the private sector during the state visits to Qatar, Mozambique and Kenya among others. 

She said Botswana also had the opportunity to participate at the 49^th World Economic Forum, the World Investment Forum and the US-Africa Business Summit. 

For his part, MP for Mahalapye West, Mr David Tshere commended the government’s intention to re-open the 70-bed capacity at Mahalapye Primary Hospital.

He, however, said likewise when Mahalapye, Serowe and Maun hospitals were upgraded to be district hospitals, primary hospitals were closed. He said this disadvantaged community members because they congested at district hospitals as they also provided services to the villages on the peripheries.

Mr Tshere also said he was worried about the high number of maternal deaths, infants and under five.

He said it was disheartening that in 2018 alone, Marina registered 200 infant mortality deaths, adding that other primary hospitals around the country might be experiencing the same calamity.

He called on   government to investigate the cause and to come up with ways of curbing or addressing maternal and infant mortality deaths.

Mr Tshere also complained about the Mahalapye Bus Rank, which he said was congested and in a bad state.

He also said infrastructure in his constituency was a nightmare, adding that the rail transport should be improved as it had the potential for employment opportunities through which Batswana could benefit from. Ends