23 Mar 2021

The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation is working on a document that will guide the country’s diplomatic outlook.

   Presenting his ministry’s budget estimates for the upcoming financial year, Dr Lemogang Kwape said the document would be ready by June.

“The process of developing the policy document is ongoing though behind schedule. It was our intention to have finalised the draft document before the end of the financial year, but due to COVID-19 related impediments, our efforts were slowed down,” Dr Kwape said.

The budget estimates were approved by Parliament’s committee of supply on Monday.

Approximately P623 million was presented and approved as the ministry’s budget. Over P579 million was approved for the recurrent budget and over P43 million for the development budget. The renovation and refurbishment of the ministry’s office building in Gaborone, the ongoing construction of a chancery building and diplomatic apartment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the renovation of the embassy office in China and that of residential properties in Windhoek, Namibia, and Lusaka, Zambia, form part of the development expenditure.

Dr Kwape said although the world faced an uncertain period where trade, travel and tourism had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that countries were likely to pursue inward investment to revive their economies, his ministry would continue to play a vanguard role in coordinating efforts to position the country in the global market.

He said in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre as well as Botswana Tourism Organisation, his ministry continued to market Botswana globally and sought international partnerships and foreign direct investment.He said the efforts would contribute towards creating a prosperous and economically resilient Botswana at peace with her neighbours and the world.

He added that over the past year, through the country’s diplomatic missions across the world, his ministry offered Batswana abroad material and moral support in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, including facilitating the repatriation of some citizens.

Airing their views on the ministry’s budget vote, Members of Parliament (MPs) commended efforts to forge strong bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries and international organisations.

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi had made concerted efforts of building and strengthening Botswana’s relationship with other countries in the region and across the world.

Mr Morwaeng said it was now being taken further through the positioning of the country’s citizens to participate in leadership positions of international organisations.

He said it was relevant since Botswana was a member in good standing of many multilateral institutions, and that it was never in financial arrears and played a positive diplomatic role.

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said Botswana was strategically located within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and that infrastructural projects such as the Kazungula bridge and Mohembo Bridge would open up trade links for the country and her neighbours.

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga said the country should tread carefully in taking decisions that could disrupt relations with her neighbours.

He cited the example of the state employing the legal services of South African attorney, Mr Gerrie Nel, who is part of the Afrikaaner Afri Forum organisation that Mr Kapinga said was widely considered to be strong opponents of the governing African National Congress (ANC).

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi lamented the appointment of governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activists to head the country’s external missions.

Mr Mmolotsi said although such political appointments were constitutional, Botswana would be better served by career diplomats who understood international relations better than politicians. ends