18 Aug 2022

Botswana has expressed pleasure at being granted the opportunity to house the SADC Standby Force regional logistics depot in Rasesa.

Speaking in an interview following  the  closure of  the  42nd SADC summit yesterday, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane said hosting such a facility  bore testament to Botswana’s  commitment to the maintenance of peace and stability in the  region.

“Botswana is renowned for strong principles strongly rooted in the rule of law, peace and stability as well as democratic dispensation, hence it comes as no surprise that the region has entrusted Botswana with hosting such facilities,” he said.

According to a SADC statement, member states have committed to contribute towards construction of the depot which is expected be built at an expected cost of US$45 million (P54 million).

The statement indicates that the deployment of SADC Mission in Mozambique demonstrated the need for the facility.

Mobilisation challenges are best addressed by a fully functional logistics depot to support quick reaction, says the statement.

The depot will be home to warehouses and workshops for materials, equipment and standby stocks.

“The depot will also have offices and residential components and comprehensive infrastructure including a road network; power, sewage and water as well as security and will provide a central platform for logistics provision and support for the SADC Standby Force,” the statement says.

Meanwhile, Vice President has hailed the just-ended summit a success.

The summit, among other things received a progress report from the SADC facilitator to Lesotho.  

While noting the progress made, the summit urged the Lesotho government to expedite completion of ongoing reforms, continue with peace, transitional justice and reconciliation process to engender national unity, Mr Tsogwane said.

Another update received was on the security situation in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province.

The summit approved the extension of SAMIM and its related processes by a further year, the vice president revealed.

On yet another security issue, the  gathering expressed concern about  the latest developments in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

It mandated the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation ministerial committee chairperson, supported by the organ‘s troika, to explore all avenues for supporting efforts aimed at improving the situation.

He said the  summit approved establishment of an oversight committee made up of a SADC panel of elders and a mediation reference group.

Additionally, Mr Tsogwane said the  leaders also received a progress report on the implementation of the mechanism to honour of SADC founders in recognition of their legacy and contribution to the organisation.

On the summit’s theme; Promoting Industrialisation through, Agro-Processing, Mineral Beneficiation, and Regional Value Chains for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Growth, he said it resonated with Botswana’s Reset  Agenda.

He said the region could therefore look up to Botswana in fast-tracking the theme’s recommendations. 

Meanwhile, back in Gaborone Ketshepile More has quoted Mr Tsogwane as telling reporters upon his return from Kinshasa  that SADC planned to call an extraordinary summit on the DRC crisis.

On the Russia/Ukraine issue, the vice president stated that SADC was non-aligned and believed in peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The organisation therefore believed that the two countries should engage in peaceful talks to resolve their conflict, he said. Ends