Africa-Press – Botswana. More durable solutions to regional energy challenges was one of the issues President Advocate Duma Boko discussed with his South Africa counterpart, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa when they met at his residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday.
The meeting, President Boko said in an interview prior to his return home at the Waterkloof Airbase in Pretoria, had identified the energy sector as a critical area of collaboration.
“We also have an agreement that we have just concluded in relation to addressing power shortage in Botswana, which departs from what we had before of buying at emergency prices, to a more settled scale, which is a better arrangement,” President Boko said, adding that the two heads of state had also ventured into discussions on boosting manufacturing and access to market between the two Southern African countries.
“One of the issues that emerges and becomes critical is that as the two countries look toward to renewable energy, we need to strengthen and establish manufacturing. For instance, manufacturing of photovoltaic panels.
South Africa is keen to have Botswana established in the space as they have a market,” Advocate Boko revealed.
He stressed that there was a need for mutually beneficial trade between the two neighbours including the opening up of the South African market for Botswana goods and services.
“In the conversation with President Ramaphosa we raised the issue that the South African market should be accessible for Botswana goods in the same way we have South African goods retailing in Botswana. Consumers here should be able to walk into outlets and find products from Botswana and other parts of Africa, that is the Africa we want,” President Boko said.
The President stressed that Botswana and South Africa, as neighbours and big trading partners who had long standing social and economic ties, it was vital that he met Mr Ramaphosa.
“Having settled into the new administration in Botswana it was imperative that I meet with the South African President one-on-one before the formal setting of a Bi-National Commission,” President Boko said.
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