Source: Botswana President arrives today for BNC, ZITF – herald
Nyore Madzianike, nyore.madzianike@zimpapers.co.zw
BOTSWANA President Advocate Duma Boko is expected to arrive in Harare this afternoon ahead of the Fifth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC), which he will co-preside over with President Mnangagwa tomorrow.
The high-level meeting is expected to underscore deepening bilateral cooperation between the two neighbouring countries across a range of sectors.
Upon arrival, President Boko will be hosted to a State banquet by President Mnangagwa, reflecting the strong diplomatic ties between Harare and Gaborone.
During his three-day visit, President Boko will also officially open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, where he will join regional business leaders in promoting trade and investment.
The BNC follows a series of preparatory engagements led by senior Government officials, which began on Sunday and focused on social, economic, diplomatic, political, defence and security issues.
The senior officials’ meeting was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador Albert Chimbindi and Botswana’s Permanent Secretary for International Relations, Ambassador Thuso Ramodimoosi.
Today, a tête-à-tête between Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira and Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Phenyo Butale, will set the tone ahead of the ministerial segment of the BNC, which they will co-chair.
The ministerial session will include presentations from the senior officials, adoption of agreed minutes and the draft joint communiqué, before closing remarks by the two ministers.
Addressing the opening of the senior officials’ meeting, Ambassador Chimbindi said the BNC reflects the enduring friendship between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
“In that regard, our two countries and peoples are inseparable.
“Our destinies are inextricably linked,” he said.He said Zimbabwe remains grateful for Botswana’s support during the liberation struggle and noted that relations between the two countries are anchored on shared history, culture and close familial ties.
Ambassador Chimbindi also highlighted cooperation in tackling cross-border crime, commending joint security operations that have reduced stock theft along shared borders.
“Furthermore, the joint efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Botswana Police Service to disrupt markets were totally left to empower our communities against local and stock theft initiatives.
“As we tackle transboundary criminal activities, we have to always remember that crimes and criminals have no nationality.
“A crime in Botswana is a crime in Zimbabwe, and a criminal in Zimbabwe is also a criminal, so they don’t have any nationality.
“The long arm of the law and due process should take its course,” he said.
Ambassador Chimbindi also called for enhanced people-to-people relations, including easing travel requirements between the two countries.“We have to take our people-to-people relationships to a much higher level.
“By ensuring that, I think we have to start the process and move it forward, ensuring that we facilitate the movement.
“In that regard, we should work towards doing away with the requirements for passports, but instead use national identity cards, and this is a challenge that we have to make sure that our people are facilitated.
“So, we challenge those whose responsibility it is to deal with that matter, to exercise their minds on it, and see how best we can tackle this, remembering that everything that we are doing here, we are doing it on behalf of the people,” he said.
Ambassador Ramodimoosi said several cooperation instruments were ready for signing during the BNC, while others should be expedited.
“In addition, this session of the BNC will advance deliberations aimed at accelerating progress in strategic areas of cooperation, including agriculture, health, energy, education, tourism, infrastructure, development, and border security.
“I am confident, co-chair, that our deliberations over the coming two days will be constructive, focused, forward-looking, and that we are equal to the task of delivering positive recommendations with clear timelines for consideration by our honourable Ministers and Heads of State.”
He reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
“These relations, as you have already admitted to the co-chair, are well grounded on shared history, geographical proximity, and close cultural ties, and they continue to serve as a firm foundation for cooperation.
“In this context, it is imperative that we continue to strengthen collaboration amongst ourselves as neighbouring States in the spirit of unity and shared purpose,” he said.
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