01 Mar 2020

Six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and one agreement have been signed at the just-ended 2^nd session of Botswana-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission.

Among the six MoUs signed during the four-day session are on areas of health, sports development, field of media, information and publicity, employment and labour, provision of sustainable, affordable and functional low-cost housing, cooperation in technical, vocational education and training and agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

Speaking during the closing ceremony, head of states from Botswana and Zimbabwe highlighted the importance of all the signed bilateral instruments in broadening and deepening the scope of cooperation between the two countries.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi appreciated that the signing of the MoUs between the two countries brought the number of all signed MoUs to 17, saying it showed the enormity and value of their bilateral cooperation.

He thanked respective ministers and senior officials for the excellent preparatory work done to ensure the successful conclusion of deliberations.

Dr Masisi was confident that the outcomes and decisions that had been made during deliberations would go a long way in consolidating their efforts towards the ultimate goal of uplifting the living standards of their people.

The session’s outcomes, he said, must have an impact on the countries’ socio-economic development, noting such could only happen if all do their part in the full implementation of what they had committed themselves to do going forward.

The full implementation of all the instruments, he said, would certainly enable the two countries to further advance cooperation in critical areas towards the improvement of the livelihoods of their people.

“Even though we have made a considerable progress in a number of areas, we should not remain complacent with the status quo. We should redouble our efforts on those other areas that are still lagging behind,” he added.

President Masisi highlighted that there were a number of draft instruments that were still pending and stressed the need to ensure their speedy conclusion.

Furthermore, he revealed that they had recommitted themselves towards the speedy conclusion of projects such as the Ponta Techobanine project, which he said would result in the establishment of an international trade route linking Botswana and Zimbabwe to the Eastern markets, through Mozambique.

As a vital trade corridor, President Masisi said it would unlock the economic potential of the three countries, and also contribute towards greater regional integration.

For his part, Zimbabwean President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa underscored the need to speed up the implementation of the MoUs for the benefit of their people.

He called on senior officials to equally demonstrate the zeal and apply determination and commitment towards full implementation of the MoUs, noting that through collaboration, they could achieve more.

He said implementation of decisions agreed on should be done during the year, not to act towards the organisation of the 3^rd session, adding that all should adopt a positive work ethics in the implementation of the instruments.

President Mnangagwa also appreciated that the session gave both countries the opportunity to take stock of the bilateral relations and map the way forward.

 

In addition, he said they managed to identify challenges and look for solutions for the coming 3^rd session scheduled for Zimbabwe in a date to be announced in due course. ENDS