27 Feb 2022

Botswana and Zimbabwe cabinet ministers and senior government officials have been asked  to ensure that the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two states bring tangible results for ordinary people.

Officially closing the third Botswana-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Victoria Falls Friday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Zimbabwean counterpart Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa said the agreements should result in development projects and policies that ordinary people could derive benefit from.

The two states concluded the session by signing five MoUs on cooperation in the tourism, child protection, water, agriculture and food security as well as youth development fields.

President Masisi explained that the instruments were meant to fast-track efforts in addressing socioeconomic and development challenges faced by both nations.

“I wish to particularly highlight the importance of the instrument on child protection as a vehicle for caring and protecting our children in conformity with international statutes based on their vulnerability,” President Masisi said.

He also singled out the MOU on water cooperation saying it would assist the two states to conserve and harness their shared water resources.

The instrument, he said,  would facilitate collaboration in the protection and management of shared waters.

“This takes into account challenges of climate change and the semi-arid geographical make up of our countries which compounds the already scarce resource,” Dr Masisi said.

He noted the importance of the strategic decision to elevate to regional status the Ponta Techobanine Project, which entailed construction of a heavy haul railway line across Botswana and Zimbabwe linked to Mozambique’s town of Ponta Techobanine.

“The project is of significant importance to regional and continental economic integration and development aspirations as it will open up new alternative routes to alternative markets in Asia, the Middle East and

Europe for many of our countries in the region and beyond,” President Masisi said.

The session, chaired by both presidents, was preceded by ministerial and senior government officials meetings.

Botswana is scheduled to host the fourth session of the BNC at a date still to be determined. Ends