Botswana and Lesotho inaugural Bi-National Commission aims produce practical and measurable outcomes that support and empower youth.

Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale said this during the official opening of the Bi-National Commission Ministers’ Session in Gaborone on Wednesday .
Dr Butale said Africa’s youth constitute the continent’s greatest asset and was the engine for future prosperity and unlocking its immense potential required deliberate and sustained investment.
He noted that youth unemployment, access to quality education, skills development and economic inclusion remained critical to converting demographic advantage into lasting prosperity.
In addition he stated that across the continent, there were inspiring narratives of young Africans pioneering innovative solutions in fintech, renewable energy, culture and digital technology.
African creativity, he said was also making its mark globally through the arts, music, fashion, literature, film and creative industries, noting that these achievements demonstrated the extraordinary potential of young people when provided with opportunity and support.
“I must admit that there are growing indications that many young Africans feel increasingly alienated from existing political systems,” he said.
Furthermore, Minister Butale said there was a growing perception among many young Africans that political institutions and leadership were not responding adequately to their aspirations and expectations.
With regards to the launch of the Commission,  Dr Butale said, Botswana and Lesotho  aimed at  establishing a shared framework for economic resilience and strategic partnership
The Commission, he said  gave both countries a formal platform for a partnership to reduce vulnerability and create joint growth opportunities.
He noted that the Commission comes at a time when the global economy continued to experience uncertainty, volatility and shifting trade dynamics.
“This Commission provides an opportunity and an important mechanism through which Botswana and the Kingdom of Lesotho can strengthen economic resilience and collectively safeguard our nations against external shocks,” he said.
Dr Butale noted that as the inaugural session, it was important that it be built to be strong enough to withstand storms and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
He said Botswana hoped that cooperation under the BNC framework would be characterised by, among other things, resilient trade, market diversification, value addition, the exchange of best practices and deeper regional integration.
“We hope that the Commission directly supports the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, which seeks to foster sustainable innovation, economic diversification, and wealth creation,” he said.
He noted that central to this vision was youth development as a driver of sustainable economic growth.
He also highlighted that the Commission’s priority areas  were water and energy cooperation, through the transformative Lesotho Highlands Water Transfer Project.
Under the project, Botswana expects to secure water by 2034, while simultaneously creating opportunities for the country to benefit from Lesotho’s hydroelectric power generation capacity.
He noted that the bilateral water and energy partnership had entered a new and more advanced phase, following the successful conclusion of negotiations on water allocation.
On trade, agriculture and economic cooperation, he said Botswana welcomes efforts to increase trade between the two countries.
As for education, skills development and innovation, he said that Botswana’s notice of withdrawal from the Institute of Development Management (IDM) was aimed at repositioning for greater relevance and impact.
Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr Limpho Tau, noted that the two nations shared ties of friendship, culture and history that transcend generations, adding that their peoples are united by language, kinship, and shared traditions which have fostered mutual understanding and solidarity across borders.
These ties, he said, continued to inspire cooperation in education, sports, cultural exchanges, and tourism, among other areas.
He further noted that the two nations meet at a most challenging time, when emerging and developing economies face global economic challenges, while also fighting to improve budgetary and socio-economic stability. ENDS