14 Dec 2021

SADC remains an intact, solidified and progressive regional bloc, says the organisation’s chairperson and Malawi president, Dr Lazarus Chakwera.

Briefing the media after paying a courtesy call on President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Gaborone yesterday, he said SADC continued to be a force to reckon with and was steadfast in its regional integration aspirations despite recent developments  of travel bans imposed on some member states following discovery of the new COVID-19 variant, Omricon.

President Chakwera said SADC had so far managed the COVID-19 infection and would not allow any nation to look down upon its citizens.

“SADC is open for business, it remains ready to unlock opportunities in trade and development and creating future for coming generations,” he stated.

He described the travel bans imposed on some SADC member states as unfortunate and irrational owing to the fact that WHO had put in place COVID-19 protocols which every country had the responsibility to ensure they were observed.

“I therefore commend our scientists in Botswana and South Africa for their sterling job in the discovery of new variant,” he said.

He expressed gratitude for the solidarity displayed by President Masisi in the face of the unfair travel bans.

“Nations beyond our continent respect us and respect our region. They know that we cannot afford to be exploited under our watch,” he stated.

Saying his visit to Botswana enabled him to engage with President Masisi about cementing bilateral ties between their two countries, Dr Chakwera added;

‘We hope to have a greater collaboration in the areas of health, trade, security, mining and tourism’.

He extended an invitation to President Masisi to attend the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) in Malawi on a date still to be announced.

Dr Chakwera said Malawi could learn best practices in mining and tourism from Botswana as it had potential in the two areas.

For his part, President Masisi said Botswana and Malawi were committed to deepening and broadening their bilateral cooperation by signing outstanding MOUs and participating in the planned JPCC.

He said the two countries intended to take advantage of the unique cooperative advantages they had.

President Masisi commended Dr Chakwera for his stewardship and agile leadership of the regional bloc saying he had been able to communicate SADC values and beliefs to the rest of the world.

“We commended him for his defence of our integrity as people including the rights that we should enjoy travelling the world and follow protocols as established by WHO,” he said.

Dr Masisi thanked Malawi for supporting Botswana for the SADC executive secretary position and believing in Mr Ellias Magosi.

“Our delight in having Mr Magosi as secretary is born out of the strong solidarity that we experienced at the time we were seeking support. We pledge that we will reciprocate,” he said.

On other issues, he said the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security was watching developments in eSwatini and Democratic Republic of Congo with ‘hawk eyes’ in order to establish dialogue for finding solutions. Ends