Africa-Press – Botswana. Government will host the International Cooperative Alliance Africa’s southern regional office for a period of three years, Minister of Entrepreneurship Mr Karabo Gare has announced.
He made the announcement in Gaborone Tuesday during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the ministry and the organisation.
Minister Gare explained that government would provide office accommodation and second officers to the office.
“It is also our obligation to assist ICA-Africa to identify land for the office, however it remains the obligation of ICA-Africa regional office to buy land and build the office,” he stated.
Mr Gare noted that the office was long planned and apologised for the delay which he blamed on government processes and the outbreak of COVID-19.
He thanked ICA-Africa for accepting Botswana as a host thereby demonstrating confidence in the country.
The minister said establishing such an office meant serving ICA members in the southern region of the continent.
“Botswana holds dear cooperatives and we continue to support the movement. I am happy that we will be hosting the African Confederation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Association’s 23rd Southern African Savings and Credit Cooperative Associations congress scheduled for October 8 to 14,” Mr Gare said.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Joel Ramaphoi said the MoA’s signing paved the way for the office’s operationalisation.
“This endeavor will ensure that the cooperative movement in Southern Africa enjoys close access to the ICA-Africa support in issues of capacity building, research and development as well as data accessibility for the region,” he said.
The organisation’s president, high chief Alhadji Ayeola of Nigeria said the journey started over a decade ago.
“What were are finalising started 10 years ago, thanks to God for making this a reality. We appreciate the ministry and President Masisi, for supporting the cooperative movement. We are grateful, not only as the cooperative movement in Africa but of the globe,” he said
He said the regional office would serve as a platform for cooperative issues to be discussed in southern Africa and Africa as a whole.
Mr Ayeola also thanked members of Botswana Cooperative Associations for the development stating that the office would be the second after Cairo, Egypt.
He expressed the hope that other sub regions would follow suite and enjoy the benefits offered.
Also present at the signing of the MoA were ICA-Africa representatives from Lesotho, eSwatini, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
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