Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) presidents have pledged to strengthen their countries’ relations and improve areas of collaboration.
President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and DRC’s Mr Felix Tshisekedi told a joint press conference in Gaborone yesterday that they were keen to collaborate on agriculture, governance, education, natural resource management including mineral wealth and wildlife.
President Masisi said the two nations also intended to deepen collaboration in other sectors of the economy for the advancement of the people.
“We have agreed to underlay every agreement that we have with commitment to good governance, peace and stability. We have committed to ensuring that we first think of each other when we execute our relationship, but not only visiting one another or encouraging our people to visit each other but also to co-invest,” he said.
Dr Masisi said peace, stability and good governance were underlying factors towards the success and growth of any nation.
He said, as a way of enhancing cooperation, ministers of foreign affairs of the two countries were instructed to develop a framework of collaboration focusing on key critical areas that were of priority.
He said such intense collaboration would cement relations of the two nations and make SADC succeed in its regional integration mission.
He said Batswana farmers were invited to rear livestock in DRC as a way of sharing with the DRC value chain of the livestock sector.
And, Dr Masisi said, Botswana was delighted to share with DRC the diamond story and how they were used to develop the economy.
On other issues, President Masisi indicated that one of the primary concerns to Africa was climate change.
He said it was unfortunate that even though Africa had minimally contributed to the effects of climate change, it was heart bearing to observe that the continent was suffering most of the effects.
Dr Masisi appreciated President Tshisekedi’s historic state visit saying it was the first of its kind by a DRC president.
For his part, President Tshisekedi applauded Botswana for supporting his country’s mission to build itself following the aftermath of internal fights.
He said it was important for African leaders to continue preaching peace and unity.
President Tshisekedi said what was primary and core to his state visit was to learn the good and positive story behind Botswana diamonds.
While the Botswana diamonds were used to develop citizens, President Tshisekedi said it was an unfortunate case in DRC as diamond mining was the ‘root of all evil’.
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