10 Mar 2022

Botswana’s participation in regional, continental and global bodies is important to advance her diplomatic and development interests, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape has said.

Dr Kwape said this presenting to Parliament for approval of the ministry’s budget request of over P646 million for the 2022/2023 financial year.

Dr Kwape stated that the proposed allocation comprised over P575 million of recurrent expenditure and P70.7 million in development expenditure.

From the recurrent budget, he said over P268.7m would be spent on personal emoluments, while over P272m would be used to pay property rent and rates for chanceries.

Under the development budget, he said the ministry would construct chancery building and diplomatic apartments in Ethiopia, renovate chanceries in Belgium and China as well as residential property in Namibia, Zambia, United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden, among others.

Briefing Parliament on the ministry’s performance during the current financial year, Dr Kwape said Botswana through the ministry continued to participate in the SADC and African Union activities.

The minister added that Botswana continued to be actively involved in the United Nations system because government fully subscribed to the promotion of peace and security and the Sustainable Development Agenda.

“We are also very intentional about enhancing active participation in the UN in order to promote our national values and advance our strategic development goals. To this end Botswana consistently participates in multi-lateral platforms, including high level events and conferences convened by the United Nations and other international organisations in order to advocate for economic and social development of our country, share our development experiences as well as learn from other nations,” he said.

Dr Kwape further said Botswana continued to strengthen her diplomacy mandates by reaching out to both foreign and domestic public in order to elicit an understanding of the country’s position on various international issues.

He pointed that the ministry was able to record notable progress on the international stage through wide ranging diplomatic activities such as promotion of bilateral relations with other countries.

“The ministry continues to capitalise on the goodwill that Botswana receives from the international community in order to advocate for the support of economic recovery and advancement of our Reset Agenda. The ministry has had to be agile and adapt to virtual diplomacy as a means to interact with bilateral partners as we sought to advance our national interests,” he said.

Dr Kwape also said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi undertook working visits to Namibia, Lesotho, the Kingdom of eSwatini, Tanzania and Zambia to maintain good neighbourliness and advance cooperation. He further said President Masisi undertook official visits to countries like the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, United States of America, India and Italy to advance Botswana’s diplomatic and development interests.

Further, he indicated that Botswana also contributed troops to the SADC mission to Cabo Delgado last year to support government of Mozambique in combating terrorism. He also said the ministry participated in the SADC fact finding mission to eSwatini last year to establish the cause for political instability in the country and propose possible solutions.

The ministry, in collaboration with that of investment, trade and Industry, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and Botswana Tourism Organisation, he said, facilitated activities aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, promote tourism and seek markets for local products.

“These promotional activities were in the form of virtual expositions, business forums and business meetings facilitated primarily by the Botswana diplomatic missions abroad,” he said. Ends