14 Nov 2021

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says serving in the UNESCO executive board would give Botswana an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the organisation.

Speaking during the celebration of UNESCO’s 75th anniversary recently, he pointed out that Botswana joined the organisation in 1980 and had benefited immensely from the membership.

“Therefore we want to show our commitment to UNESCO by serving in its executive board with aplomb and distinction,” he said.

On COVID-19, President Masisi informed his audience that Botswana was forced to adopt a recovery and transformation plan in order to reboot and cushion the economy from the unprecedented shock brought about by the pandemic.

Dr Masisi said the country had also formulated a reset agenda to facilitate implementation of  its development programme with saving Botswana’s population from COVID-19 as its number one priority.

The priority was achievable through deployment of several life-saving measures including a successful and timely vaccination programme, he said.

In addition, he said, Botswana had decided to prioritise and accelerate digital transformation across the country hence the adoption of the SmartBots strategy.

Its aim was to transition the country from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, explained Dr Masisi.

He said the intention was to connect the entire country digitally to ensure no one was left behind and to build a knowledgeable workforce.

Dr Masisi pointed out that COVID-19 had exposed glaring inequalities between the developed and developing world and the ability to respond digitally and medically to the crisis.

He said frontline workers, nurses, doctors and teachers were still suffering the effects of the pandemic.

The President noted that when the UN came up with a sustainable development agenda six years ago, members pledged not to leave anyone behind but COVID-19 had shown that many had been left behind, especially where vaccine access was concerned.

He expressed gratitude for the efforts of countries helping to address the vaccine deficit and was also grateful to UNESCO for assisting states impacted by the mentioned inequalities.

President Masisi is the first Botswana head of state to address the UNESCO conference.

UNESCO is a specialised UN agency aimed at promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. Ends