12 Dec 2022

Botswana expects to reap from the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit scheduled for December 13 to 15, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape has said.

In an interview, Dr Kwape said Botswana would use the platform to dialogue on opportunities for public-private partnerships and bolster the Botswana-US relationship, among other things.

He said Botswana and US had a long standing cordial relationship and that the US was the number one buyer of Botswana diamonds, therefore the summit provided new opportunities for the two countries.

Regarding food security, he said more technology was needed to achieve food security since Botswana was an arid country, adding collaboration with the US in research and technology would offer space to shape innovations.

Dr Kwape said President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s presence at the summit would make it easier to forge collaborations between Botswana and US institutions.

“We need to build collaborations with US institutions so that we are in a cutting edge in terms of research and development,” he said.

He said the President’s external engagements were crucial as he interacted with his peers on issues of concern to Botswana.

Dr Kwape said the foreign policy was a projection of a domestic policy and it was critical that the President engaged with other leaders outside the country.

Dr Kwape said Botswana, as a beacon of democracy, was further deriving pride from showcasing to the rest of the world what democracy and peace was, adding such credentials resulted in benefits of trading with Botswana.

He further said the President would further advance Botswana’s interests during engagements with the US president, Mr Joe Biden.

Some of the areas of interest included the Reset Agenda priorities and other issues such as supply and availability of medicines. The continent will also use the platform to explore ways of increasing US engagement in African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In an interview, United States’ Botswana Charge d’ Affaires, Ms Amanda Jacobson said America was thrilled that Botswana was sending a high-powered delegation to the summit.  

She said America was committed to expanding and modernising US partnerships in Africa, working together to find innovative solutions to new and long-standing challenges as well as harnessing new research and technologies.

Ms Jacobson said a robust partnership between the United States and African nations was also vital to achieve shared priorities strengthening health systems, creating economic opportunity, addressing the climate crisis, expanding energy access, and revitalising democracies. She said the summit intended  to deepen and expand the US-Africa partnership to advance shared priorities and values, amplify African voices to collaboratively meet the era’s defining challenges leverage the best of America, including the government, private sector, and civil society.

Ms Jacobson said was hopeful that President Biden will hold meaningful conversations with all the heads of delegation across the various sessions.

Over 45 countries have confirmed their attendance.

The summit will feature African Heads of State and Government, business leaders, civil society, leading US-African businesses and investors, ministerial meeting on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), among others.President Masisi is accompanied by the First Lady Neo Masisi, Dr Kwape, trade and industry minister, Mr Mmusi Kgafela, agriculture’s Mr Fidelis Molao, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the President, Ms Matshidiso Bokole and other senior government officials. BOPA