17 Aug 2023

Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) ministerial council has approved the re-scoping of the standby force regional logistics depot project.

Botswana has allocated land in the Rasesa area in the Kgatleng district for the SADC standby force regional logistics depot which is estimated to cost over P400 million to attain full operational capability.

“SADC has to date raised just  over  P162.5 million, thus  the ministerial council has approved the  re-scoping of the regional logistics depot to facilitate the utilisation of the raised funds to commence  the  first  phase  which  is to  attain partial operation capability,” Minister of Defence and Security,  Mr Kagiso  Mmusi said in  an interview  on the  side-lines of  the  SADC ministerial council  meeting in Angola.

The available funds, the  minister,  said would  cover  the  construction of  two  warehouses and supporting infrastructure  such as roads, sewer  reticulation, water  and electricity  reticulation.

He said the plan was to  allow member  states  to raise  capital  for their  contribution  towards  the    last two phases.

Minister  Mmusi indicated  that the depot  would  significantly  contribute to SADC’s capacity  to sustain  operations  following the increase in the  peace support  operations such as SAMIM and SAMIDRC and other  humanitarian  assistance.

He noted that the establishment of the depot reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to attaining sustainable peace and security in the entire region, adding that such milestone was pivotal towards the region’s social livelihoods enhancement.

“The deployment of SADC Mission in both Mozambique and DRC demonstrates the need for a depot to mitigate mobilisation challenges best addressed by a fully functional logistics depot to support quick reaction,” he said.

Botswana stands to benefit from the project through infrastructure development such as roads, communication network and improved utilities.

 The project, he said, would also increase employment opportunities for Botswana and economic empowerment  as well as  trade facilitation. Ends