18 Aug 2024

Botswana has applauded Zimbabwe for its optimistic manufacturing sector despite challenges such as the recent sanctions imposed on the country.

This observation was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Dr Lemogang Kwape during a tour of the Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited manufacturing plant on the side-lines of the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of States and Government in Harare on Friday.

“Given what Zimbabwe has gone through in the last few years, the country has been resilient and has built capacity in the manufacturing sector and other sectors to be self-sufficient,” he stated.

He commended Zimbabwe’s achievements, particularly in agricultural production, saying, ‘they have been very successful in this regard and are now self-sufficient in wheat and milk production, with surpluses to spare.’

Botswana is positioning itself as a destination for investment due to its reputation as one of the most peaceful and stable countries in the region.

“Any potential investor can be assured that they are making an investment in a safe place,” he said.

Minister Kwape said Botswana stood ready as it prides itself as being the most peaceful and most stable country in the region thus any potential investor was assured of having made an investment in a safe place in the region.

He said the main reason SADC existed was for its member states to thrive and that one of the key priorities was to integrate the region.

“I am here at Schweppes and what we are discussing is how best we can integrate the manufacturing sector. They have the skills and the expertise. We have engaged in discussions as the two countries on how to work together, invest in a citrus production and manufacturing in Botswana,” he added.

Dr Kwape said government’s ambition was to get Batswana good quality jobs and urged the company to support small and medium enterprises in Botswana.

Government wants to create a multisectoral economy and no longer rely on one commodity, Dr Kwape said and added that programmes had been established, that aimed at assisting small to large scale farmers such as the recent cattle initiative aimed at increasing herd count and quality.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries CEO, Ms Sekai Kuvarika said the Zimbabwe manufacturing sector a highly capable industry and urged Botswana to exploit the potential it had in terms of growth and the expansion and internationalisation prowess.

“Botswana provides a good case for us to replicate as the manufacturing sectoraims to expand into rest of SADC region as well as into Africa. “Zimbabwe companies expanding into Botswana would increase Botswana’s participation and both countries’ participation in the AfCFTA market opportunity,” she said.

Ms Kuvarika said Zimbabwe had companies which had been operational for over 100 years and the country had a lot of experience and long history in manufacturing which gave them a lot of capabilities in the sector.

She said the Zimbabwean manufacturing sector had capabilities to provide inputs to the agriculture sector such as agricultural equipment and various inputs into agricultural production.

“We also have the capacity to process the outputs that comes from the agricultural sector into value added products. As a mature industry we are considered second best potential beneficiary of the free trade area before us, and as we go into the AfCFTA we have goods and services to trade on the African planet,” she said.

Ms Kuvarika said trade facilitation, partnerships and investments were all important for all that to succeed.

Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited core business is the manufacturing, sales and distribution of beverages under license from the Coca Cola company. Ends