16 Aug 2022

The fact that Botswana is up-to-date with its SADC financial contributions signifies its commitment to the realisation of regional integration, says Dr Lemogang Kwape.

  The foreign affair minister said another indication of the country’s commitment was the recent signing of protocols and agreements in order to realise the benefits of regional integration.

  He was speaking in an interview ahead of the 42nd SADC heads state and government summit scheduled for August 17-18 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

   Minister Kwape said unity among SADC member states remained key in realising an integrated and developed region.

SADC member states should work diligently and collectively to address challenges hindering smooth implementation of the industrialisation agenda, he said.

Dr Kwape said top on the summit’s agenda would be reforms geared towards reviving the region’s economic status post the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the summit would also discuss the geopolitical instability resulting from the Russia/Ukraine conflict which had impacted many country’s path to economic recovery.

“It goes without saying that the current economic performance is of great concern to the entire SADC region and each member state is looking at how best to address the economic implications brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he said.

Dr Kwape emphasised the need for the bloc to institute reforms that would drive citizen empowerment policies hence the summit’s theme; Promoting industrialisation through agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and regional value for chain for inclusive and resilience economic growth.

He said as neighbours SADC countries faced almost similar socio-economic challenges, some of which required joint strategies.

“It is an important objective for each member state to achieve sustained economic growth and sustainable development for the betterment of all SADC citizenry,” he added.

On other issues, Dr Kwape said the bloc’s council of ministers was working with the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to ensure continued peace and stability in the region.

“Peace and security are the foundation for achieving regional integration and sustainable socio-economic development,” he said adding that security threats in Mozambique and other countries also threatened economic stability.

He said for that reason an organ troika meeting would precede  the summit to take an in-depth look into the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

The minister emphasised the importance of attaining regional peace and security consistent with realising sustainable regional development.

According to Dr Kwape, another issue of great concern was gender based violence.

Member states were expected root out any form of abuse and violence on the vulnerable members of the society, particularly children and women, he said. Ends