The Voice (Botswana)

TSOGWANE DEFENDS MASISI’S FOREIGN TRIPS

- BY DANIEL CHIDA

Following heavy criticism from the public on President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s continued internatio­nal trips, Vice President, Slumber Tsogwane, has come out to defend his boss, saying the country is benefittin­g a lot from the trips.

When launching the Botswana Democratic

Party (BDP) candidate for Bosele ward, Isaac Boyboy Moseki, last Sunday, Tsogwane said that Botswana, through Masisi’s extensive internatio­nal travels, continues to take full advantage of the good opportunit­ies that exist in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as finding export market prospects for Botswana companies. He said the BDP has achieved a lot in delivering its election manifesto promises, among them being, ‘multilater­alism, economic diplomacy and partnershi­ps, noting that Botswana needs to always maintain its economic diplomacy and always develop economic and trade exchanges with all friendly countries based on equality and mutual benefit.

“These internatio­nal travels by Masisi are extremely important as you would all recall the drought we suffered in the last 10 years. Botswana was relatively unknown, and Masisi is hard at work to change the status quo,” added Tsogwane.

By August, last year government had forked out more than P18 million sponsorshi­p of Masisi’s trips since becoming president.

Speaking in Parliament last year, the Assistant Minister of State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, said that the purpose of all the president’s internatio­nal trips was to position Botswana’s foreign policy and advance the country’s national interests.

 ?? Tsogwane ?? DISMISSIVE:
Tsogwane DISMISSIVE:

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