Two neighbours cement ties
Botswana and South Africa are partners in trade, infrastructure and African unity
Botswana’s President Seretse Khama Ian Khama has earned a reputation as one of the most outspoken African leaders when it comes to issues of the rule of law, accountability and governance.
Khama recently concluded a successful visit to Pretoria, where he met President Jacob Zuma for this year’s bi-national commission.
Botswana and South Africa co-operate in a variety of areas including among others, transport, trade and investment, health, education, environmental issues, water, science and technology, agriculture, justice, immigration, energy, finance, culture, security and sport.
According to Khama, South Africa remains one of the major trading partners of Botswana and the two countries enjoy “deep his- torical ties”.
As of 2015, South Africa’s total bilateral trade with Botswana stood at R57.97 billion. There are many South African companies in Botswana, involved in various sectors such as housing, food and beverages, construction, retail, hotels and leisure, banking and medical services. These companies contribute to the growth and development of Botswana’s economy.
“It is also important that we recognise the commendable progress we have achieved in some of the critical sectors,” said Khama said during the commission held in Pretoria in early November.
“These include among others, the continued excellent co-operation between our law enforcement agencies in combating cross-border crime; the cross-border water supply project, which is helping to sustain the livelihoods of the communities living in the southern part of Botswana; and the extension of the electricity supply contract between Botswana Power Corporation and Eskom, which will ensure that Botswana continues to import electricity from South Africa.”
Khama further thanked South Africa for the progress made in the development of various key infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the bridges at Notwane crossing point and at Plaatjan.
“I must commend the government of South Africa for having moved with speed to complete the construction of the bridge at Notwane,” said Khama. The Botswana government further pledged to fast-track the construction of this bridge.
He also thanked South Africa for joining his country’s 50th independence celebrations. “Although we were celebrating the strides that we have made since we gained independence in 1966, we also took the opportunity to reflect on the path ahead. Our Golden Jubilee coincided with the end of Botswana’s Vision 2016 and the launch of a new Vision 2036, which will carry us forward in the next 20 years,” said Khama.
He said Botswana has over the years relied mostly on the diamond industry, and his country’s efforts to achieve economic diversification had not borne all the desired results.
“As we were crafting the Vision 2036 document, some of the questions we pondered over included how else can we realise economic diversification and how do we develop our export industry. Our friends in the region, South Africa included, contributed in one way or the other towards the success my country celebrated on the 30th of September,” said Khama.
“As we move forward with the new vision we are still going to need to develop strategic partnership with our friends and neighbours in order to reach our targets for 2036. South Africa is quite advanced in industrialisation and development of manufacturing and export industries.”
During the bi-national commission, Botswana and South Africa expressed their commitment to attain African unity together, and the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063 and its Action Plan. Zuma reaffirmed South Africa’s support for the candidature of Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Botswana’s minister of international affairs and co-operation, for the post of AU Commission chairperson in January next year.