15 Aug 2021

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape, says coordinated regional response is key in addressing threat to common security in Mozambique before it spills over to the entire Southern Africa region.

He said this in a statement on the launch of the SADC Mission in Mozambique.

Minister Kwape told Parliament on Friday that at the recent SADC peace keeping mission for regional support to Mozambique, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi acknowledged the presence of

Mozambique’s other cooperation partners, which included Rwanda.

He encouraged the mission to foster close inter-agency cooperation and coordination with the other friendly troops on the ground.

He indicated that President Masisi, in his capacity as the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security chairperson, appointed Professor Mpho Molomo the special representative for the SADC mission in Mozambique.

He said the mission would assist Mozambique and the entire region to rid itself of the acts of terrorism for continued lasting peace and security, which were essential in the efforts towards the realisation of socio-economic transformation of the SADC region.

He further highlighted that other countries that had pledged personnel and capabilities towards the mission included Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

South Africa is the Force Commander of the mission while Botswana is the Deputy Force Commander.

Meanwhile, Botswana also provided Head of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism for the mission. Legislators also had an opportunity to observe a moment of silence in honour of Corporal Jacob Ramagonono of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), who was a part of the contingent deployed in Mozambique in July on a peace keeping mission.

Corporal Ramagonono died in a vehicle accident while discharging his duties in Pemba. ENDS