26 Apr 2021

Southern Africa Development Community  (SADC) member states should continue working together towards the realisation of an integrated and developed region, says South Africa high commissioner to Botswana, Ms Rosemary Mashaba.

In her message on the occasion of South Africa Freedom Day yesterday, Ms Mashaba said SADC was destined for greater things ahead if members cohesively moved together.

She said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presented an economic opportunity for SADC to leverage on in efforts to address the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

“In the event that we successfully address these challenges we would have ensured that the southern Africa region will enjoy a peaceful, secured and prosperous trajectory,” she said.

She stated that  SADC’s Agenda 2063 was attainable if the region remained steadfast in collectively working together as a bloc.

Ms Mashaba applauded the good relations between South Africa and Botswana, acknowledging the latter’s role during South Africa’s freedom struggle.

“It is also opportune for us to send a message of appreciation to SADC member states and South Africa’s frontline states during the struggle for liberation. We remain forever indebted to your unwavering contribution and support,” she said.

Southern African countries’ support during South Africa’s dark period of oppression bore testimony to the African proverb that “I am because you are”, she said.

On Botswana-South Africa bilateral ties, Ms Mashaba said they stemmed from mutual trade and investment, shared tourism, arts and culture and transfer of skills amongst other areas of cooperation and evidenced friendly relations between the two countries. 

The relations, she said, were further reaffirmed by the recent official visit by President  Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi to South Africa.

Ms Mashaba noted that this year Freedom Day was being commemorated under very strange and difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Under normal circumstances this day will be marked with an event where we will all be in one venue and celebrating. However, the sad reality presented by the COVID-19 pandemic forces us to limit human contact as much as possible in order to save lives,” she said.

She urged all to continue  observing the prescribed protocols to ensure government was met halfway in the fight against the pandemic.  

The day was commemorated under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Maxeke: the meaning of freedom under COVID-19”.

 Charlotte Maxeke (1871-1939)was a South African religious leader, social and political activist as well as the country’s first black woman to get an university degree. Ends