24 Sep 2026

Botswana and Mozambique are pushing to deepen bilateral cooperation by upgrading their Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC) to a Bi-national Commission, as the two countries seek to translate existing agreements into practical benefits for their citizens.

The proposal emerged during the opening of the ninth session of the Botswana-Mozambique JPCC in Gaborone on Wednesday.

Mozambique’s Director for Africa and Middle East, Ambassador Hermenegildo José Caetano, said the focus should now shift from negotiating agreements to ensure that those already concluded were implemented.

He said the proposed Bi-national Commission would provide a stronger framework for strategic and economic cooperation, with the aim of delivering sustainable mutual benefits to both countries.

The meeting followed a mid-term cooperation evaluation held in Maputo in April, which assessed progress made since the 8th Session of the Joint Commission in July 2024.

Ambassador Caetano said significant progress had been recorded in several areas, including defence cooperation, negotiations surrounding the Ponta Techobanine Project and efforts to strengthen economic cooperation.

He said the two countries were also working towards establishing a Permanent Joint Defence and Security Commission.

The meeting also considered 18 draft agreements and memoranda of understanding covering areas including science and technology, tourism, education, health, youth, sport, housing, public administration, media and trade.

Ambassador Caetano said the two countries also needed to accelerate work on the Limpopo Development Corridor and address outstanding issues surrounding the Ponta Techobanine Railway Project.

He said Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe would need to engage on pending matters relating to implementation of the railway project.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Relations, Ambassador Thuso Ramodimoosi, called for greater focus on implementing agreements already reached between the two countries.

He said the success of bilateral cooperation should not be measured by the number of agreements signed, but by whether they were implemented within agreed timelines and produced tangible benefits for citizens.

He urged officials to identify implementation gaps, assign clear responsibilities and establish firm timelines for outstanding commitments.

Ambassador Ramodimoosi said the 9th Session should be used to close implementation gaps and ensure sustained follow-up until commitments were delivered.

The meeting was also expected to prepare for Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo’s State Visit to Botswana from September 28 to October 1. ENDS