11 Mar 2026

President Advocate Duma Boko has urged Ambassador designate to Japan and High Commissioner to Australia to leverage their positions to promote Botswana’s interests and attract investment. 

President Boko expressed the sentiments on Tuesday during a courtesy call by Dr Thuto Mahlanza, High Commissioner designate to Australia and Professor Boga Manatsha, Ambassador designate to Japan. 

He emphasised the importance of strengthening ties with Australia and Japan, highlighting opportunities for economic cooperation in mining, technology, healthcare and manufacturing, as the country seeks to diversify its economy and become a regional hub. 

When receiving Dr Mahlanza, President Boko advised him to look for opportunities and benefits that the country and Batswana can derive from Australia. 

He said Australia and Botswana were mining countries and there was a lot to be gained from each other. 

The President said Dr Mahlanza was taking up the post when multilateralism and world order were facing a challenge, calling for the country to navigate the geopolitical sphere. 

He said Botswana remain steadfast in its diplomatic values and ambitions and would work with countries that share the same values. 

Also, he said Dr Mahlanza should serve the interest of the country through business partnerships and attract investment, adding that the country was seeking to be a financial centre and transport hub, areas in which Australia has excelled. 

As for Prof Manatsha, President Boko said the country has a good relationship with Japan, having received tremendous assistance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), of which he was also a beneficiary while chairman of the Law Society of Botswana. 

 The JICA assistance paved way for the recognition of the LSB and his subsequent assignment by the International Bar Association in various capacities. 

President Boko noted that Japan was leading in technology and digitilisation, which the country can learn from and pointed out that other assistance to the country included budget support assistance, digital migration and the Kazungula Bridge project thus calling for the deepening and strengthening of relations between the two countries. 

Another area that the President suggested was the medical and health space, where he said Japan’s retired specialists could help improve the country’s healthcare. 

Manufacturing has been highlighted as another area of interest, where he said Japanese industries could set up and manufacture in Botswana. 

President Boko also highlighted that many Batswana students had studied in Japanese universities, adding that the government would like such opportunities to continue. 

As for South Korea, which falls under the Botswana embassy in Japan, he said the country gained independence at the same time as Botswana but had developed into a high-income country, therefore providing a learning opportunity. 

Prof. Manatsha thanked the President for the assignment to represent the country in Japan and promised to advance the country’s interests, saying he would focus on low-hanging fruits for the country’s benefit, citing teaching opportunities for Batswana teachers in Japan and South Korea, and the expatriate labour market for Batswana. 

He also added that the Philippines expressed interest in Botswana beef, and they were also into tannery industries. 

While Dr Mahlanza said his appointment came at a time when the economy was not doing well, which necessitated him to immediately hit the ground running. 

He cited existing opportunities in political engagement and agricultural development, adding that he would service close to 1000 Batswana living in Australia. 

He added that the Australians were interested in mining and Africa offered such an opportunity, further noting that the country had a well-developed financial sector, which Botswana could learn from. BOPA