12 Oct 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has acceded to UN Habitat’s request to champion  its sustainable urbanisation campaign.

The request was made by the organisation’s executive director, Ms Maimunah Sharif during a courtesy call on President Masisi Tuesday. 

She said by championing the campaign, the President would not only assist the organisation to achieve its mandate, but would also influence other heads of state to give it the necessary support.

Ms Sharif said President Masisi’s road map of transforming Botswana through the Reset Agenda and the use of advanced technology was similar to her organisation’s mandate that focused on reshaping urban areas by enhancing the overall wellbeing of the location and its people. 

Through his leadership, she said, President Masisi had shown commitment to cater for all, adding that similarly, UN Habitat  focused on promoting sustainable development in urban areas and catering for all. 

She said the emphasise was to reduce harmful impacts on people and to establish smart cities centred on uplifting livelihoods.

Thanking President Masisi for his contribution to the UN Habitat mandate, she revealed that the organisation received US$20 000 annually from Botswana.

 She requested for the support to be increased and urged President Masisi to encourage other UN member states to make financial contributions to the organisation. 

President Masisi acknowledged the need to increase the financial support.

He said government was working on providing the UN Habitat team with a better working environment.

Meanwhile Ms Sharif and her team also commemorated World Habitat Day at Old Naledi. 

She expressed her organisation’s delight at having a collaborative framework with Botswana established through a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the urban agenda and unlock investment in Botswana’s cities. 

UN Habitat was looking forward to the full implementation of the MoU, she said.

Ms Sharif also invited President Masisi to attend the UN Habitat assembly slated for Nairobi, Kenya next year.

On its agenda would be issues  of poverty, climate change, urbanisation, housing and water, she said. Ends