09 Dec 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says Botswana/China cordial relations continues to bear fruits.

Speaking during the launch and hand over of solar street lights project in Makopong on Tuesday, he said when he assumed power he strived to cement relations between the two countries because he knew there were numerous benefits to derive from such a move.

He said the project hand over was testimony that when cordial relations existed, the two countries could achieve great milestones in the areas of development.

Dr Masisi said the illumination of the village was cost free as villagers were not billed.

He said people should not be impatient as government was on the right path of bringing developments to villages and that development was a process but not an event.

He said because of existing friendship between Botswana and China, the latter had decided to lift a ban of the country’s beef exportation to China, thus imploring Batswana to take advantage of the dispensation and tap into the benefits presented by China’s large market with a population of about 1.4 billion.

He said such a move presented an opportunity for the meat market thus it was of paramount importance to utilise it as diamonds would not last forever, and were getting finished as well as employing few people.

He said illumination of the village was part of poverty eradication as the project employed some locals.

He added that the project would reduce crime significantly. The President implored residents to take good care of the lights and avoid vandalising them, adding such behaviour was punishable and the culprit would be expected to  replace the damaged property.

Furthermore, Dr Masisi urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, urging them to clean their environment as dirt could  cause cattle diseases.

He said his goal was to create wealth for the country in an all-inclusive approach, arguing if everybody was rich then the country would be rich.

Speaking at the same event the ambassador of China, Dr Zhao Yanbo said it was a great honour for him to accompany the President to witness the handover ceremony.

He said they fulfilled their goal of completing the street lights that covered a six-kilometre stretch and the spine of the village such as clinic, kgotla and school.

The embassy of China sponsored the project that comprised 150 lights that have a life span of eight years and Makopong is now nicknamed solar city by the villagers as an expression of gratitude for the gesture.

The project cost over P3.7 million which in no doubt would change the economic landscape of the villagers.

Dr Zhao said the project was initiated by the President as he visited far-flung places and advocated for development in such areas.

He said it was the embassy’s endeavor to assist remote areas with solar energy.

He said Botswana and China were in good relations but the President’s recent visits to the country took it to another level and resulted in a good number of projects being under taken by China to assist Batswana.

He said China had constructed Mophane Primary School which had an enrollment capacity of 800 pupils and was awaiting to be handed over to government in the near future.

He said they were planning to build another primary school in the near future.

The government of China, he said would also build two or three roads in Botswana owing to cordial relations enjoyed by the two countries. He said it was China’s goal to eradicate poverty and had eradicated it according to United Nations standards.

He said the two countries benefited through shared development and cooperation.

He said there was a lot of potential in areas of development and that the strived to foster the existing relationship and cooperation among the two countries.

The Chinese also offered to assist for free should streets lights in Makopong malfunction. ENDS