01 Oct 2026

Botswana is in the process of developing a Samora Machel Museum restaurant earmarked to serve Setswana and Portuguese cuisines, Minister of Environment and Tourism Mr Wynter Mmolotsi has said. 

Minister Mmolotsi made the announcement on Tuesday during a tour of the Samora Machel Museum in Peleng location, Lobatse by President of Mozambique, Mr Daniel Chapo.

“We are at an advanced stage of getting that started and look forward to treating museum visitors to sumptuous meals,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi said Peleng location held a special place in the annuls of history having hosted the founding president to Mozambique, Mr Samora Machel during the liberation struggle. 

“We are proud of the hospitality that we have rendered, not just to Samora Machel but to the people of Mozambique.

“It shows the bond of friendship between the African countries and the relations that have endured over the years. We would continue to nurture them for the benefit of future generations,” he said. 

He emphasised that Lobatse was a historic town, having played a substantial role in the liberation struggle of Southern Africa by hosting many liberation icons.

For his part, President Chapo said Botswana and Mozambique have enjoyed bilateral relations. 

He said Botswana hosted Mozambique founding President Samora Machel and therefore had played a major role in the liberation of the people of Mozambique.

“Our leaders faced challenges of liberating our people, therefore all people of SADC must uphold solidarity and cooperation. Our state visit here is to make sure that our bonds get stronger, we need to work together to develop bonds that build our nations,” he said.

Furthermore, President Chapo said the state visit served to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries.

“Our main objective as African leaders is to create better living conditions for own people and that can only be possible if we get inspired by the actions of liberation leaders.

“Thank you to the people of Botswana, we will keep united with solidarity as our leaders, liberators have done in the past, we can only make that possible if we stand united and encourage cooperation between our people,” he said.

President Chapo and his entourage also visited the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) where they were welcomed by the acting BMC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oabona Ramotshwara. 

The delegation learnt that the BMC was a national engine of trade, value and confidence built to serve global markets with premium meat enterprise. 

Mozambique Secretary of State for Trade, Mr Antonio Grispos urged BMC to enhance its logistics and trade capabilities, aligning with the broader economic partnership between Mozambique and Botswana

He equally advised BMC to consider channeling some of its beef exports through the Mozambique ports, making it much easier and faster to reach global markets. ENDS