08 May 2023

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi’s  three-day state visit to Botswana is expected to expand and bolster bilateral relations between the two nations. 

President Tshisekedi is expected to arrive here today.

Briefing the media yesterday, Botswana’s high commissioner to Zambia Mr Alpheus Matlhaku, whose   mission covers the DRC,  expressed optimism that the visit would yield tremendous dividends especially in the area of trade.

Currently, he said, trade between the two countries was limited therefore the visit  would afford the two countries the opportunity to explore avenues of strengthening economic ties.

As per tradition, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his guest were scheduled to address a Botswana-DRC business forum where the two countries’ entrepreneurs would engage and share notes which would assist in strengthening trade and the exploration of new areas, Mr Matlhaku said.

The high commissioner revealed that skills transfer had been identified as a potential area of cooperation which he said would go a long way in diversifying and growing Botswana’s agricultural sector. 

“Botswana has explored the sector’s value chain as it is among the countries in the region known for producing fertilisers,” he said.

Mr Matlhaku said since the two countries were both diamond mining giants, the DRC president’s visit  to Jwaneng Mine would also be beneficial to the diamond industry.

He described Botswana was the gateway to northern Africa and had the important role of oiling the cooperation machine among African countries. 

“Movement through Botswana going either south or north of Africa is a preferred route by traders since the opening of the Kazungula Bridge as the route was shorter and safer,” he said.

On overall relations between the two countries, Mr Matlhaku said they had been cordial since they became independent states and continued to grow.

Mr Matlhaku said the recent establishment of a DRC chancery in Botswana bore testimony to the growing relations between the two countries.

Previously, the DRC ambassador to Botswana was resident in South Africa.

The cordial relationship was further cemented by DRC’s move  to withdraw its SADC executive secretary candidature thereby paving the way for Botswana’s Mr Elias Magosi.

As SADC chairperson, President Tshisekedi will use the state visit to make his maiden visit to the SADC Headquarters in Gaborone. 

President Tshisekedi will also engage with DRC people in the diaspora. Ends