Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana and Lesotho are set to elevate their Join Commission on economic and technical cooperation by signing a Bi-National Commission agreement during President Advocate Duma Boko’s three-day working visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho, which begins July 15.
The Bi-National Commission of Cooperation serves as a platform for high level discussions, reviews of existing agreements and identification of new areas of cooperation. Botswana and Lesotho have had a long standing Joint Commission on Technical and Economic Cooperation, signed in 2003.
The engagement between the two would among other things include a courtesy call on King Letsie III at the royal house and a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sam Matekane at State House. President Boko is scheduled to tour the dam site for the proposed Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project tomorrow..
The project, situated in Mafeteng District, is set to improve water demand in Botswana and further contribute to building resilience to impacts of climate change. President Boko’s visit would further accord him a platform to meet and greet Batswana in Lesotho.
His meetings with Batswana in diaspora have been part of engagements where he implored Batswana to represent the country and gain skills beneficial to improving Botswana’s economy. The visit would culminate with attendance of King Letsie III 62nd birthday celebration festivities in Teyateyaneng on Thursday.
President Boko’s historic visit marks a significant milestone in the deepening of diplomatic relations and friendship of the two countries charactirised by common history and values.
The two countries have historic bonds of bilateral friendship, both having gained their independence in 1966 and were previously British colonies.
Linguistically, the two nations have the same dialect and further share roots and cultural practices due to their geographical proximity.
Both countries are landlocked and face distinctive economic vulnerabilities of heavily relying on single commodities with limited diversification.
Botswana and Lesotho have similar challenges of high unemployment rate, with Lesotho having recently declared it a national disaster for the next two years.
President Boko’s visit comes at a time when he is currently engaging countries in the continent to embark on a transformative agenda, which he wants Botswana to lead.
Soon after he assumed the Presidency during African Economic Conference, he highlighted the importance of strong governance and Africa’s economic success and sustainability. He stressed peace, stability, economic development and responsive governance in Africa as indisputable remedies to the continent’s progress and development.
The President would be accompanied by Minister for International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale, Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi and other senior government officials.
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