12 Dec 2024

As neighbours, largely dominated by the Kalahari and Namib Desert terrains, both sparsely populated, having common ethnic groups particularly along their extensive borderline, and counting diamonds, the cattle industry and small stock among their areas of trade, Botswana and Namibia have commonalities that bind the two states.

This was the common sentiment shared as the High Commissioner of Namibia, Ms Elizabeth Kurukuru, officially commenced her diplomatic tour of duty to Botswana by presenting her diplomatic credentials to President Advocate Duma Boko at the Office of the President yesterday.

Advocate Boko said the warm, brotherly, sisterly relationship between the two states would continue to be deepened, even in an election year that has seen the two nations usher in newly elected Presidents.

He said the election of Ms Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as Namibia’s first female President was something Botswana and the rest of the African continent would draw inspiration from.

Ambassador Kurukuru also lauded the outcome of Botswana’s October 30 general election as having demonstrated to Africa and the world the country is a matured democracy, as the change of guard from one political party to another transpired in a peaceful atmosphere.

She noted that there were planned joint projects such as the Trans-Kalahari Railway that the two nations would need to implement, and her country, looked forward to cementing the execution such partnerships at the two countries’ upcoming Bi-National Commission meeting, due to be hosted by Namibia in 2025.

President Boko also welcomed Mr Simon Michael, the new South Sudan Ambassador and noted that the two states had durable diplomatic relations dating back to 2011, and South Sudanese peoples had benefited from training in the health and agricultural sectors in Botswana.

He added that Botswana was willing to share its experience in the mineral extraction and beneficial use, as well as to trade in animal vaccine with South Sudan, which like Botswana has mineral wealth endowment as well as a large cattle herd.

Another African envoy, Mr Abdelmalek Tigharghar, Ambassador of Algeria to Botswana, also met with the President.

President Boko commended Algeria for its seat on the United Nations Security Council, and said African states should recognise their interdependence, and pursue a common agenda for development, in order to become the flag bearers of that would benefit generations to come.

Stating that a large proportion of the Algeria population works in the agriculture sector, President Boko said Botswana sought to emulate that and partner with Algeria in other areas of the economy such as innovation. ENDS