Africa-Press – Botswana. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) ministerial council has approved the re-scoping of the standby force regional logistics depot project.
Botswana has allocated land in the Rasesa area in the Kgatleng district for the SADC standby force regional logistics depot which is estimated to cost over P400 million to attain full operational capability.
“SADC has to date raised just over P162.5 million, thus the ministerial council has approved the re-scoping of the regional logistics depot to facilitate the utilisation of the raised funds to commence the first phase which is to attain partial operation capability,” Minister of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi said in an interview on the side-lines of the SADC ministerial council meeting in Angola.
The available funds, the minister, said would cover the construction of two warehouses and supporting infrastructure such as roads, sewer reticulation, water and electricity reticulation.
He said the plan was to allow member states to raise capital for their contribution towards the last two phases.
Minister Mmusi indicated that the depot would significantly contribute to SADC’s capacity to sustain operations following the increase in the peace support operations such as SAMIM and SAMIDRC and other humanitarian assistance.
He noted that the establishment of the depot reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to attaining sustainable peace and security in the entire region, adding that such milestone was pivotal towards the region’s social livelihoods enhancement.
“The deployment of SADC Mission in both Mozambique and DRC demonstrates the need for a depot to mitigate mobilisation challenges best addressed by a fully functional logistics depot to support quick reaction,” he said.
Botswana stands to benefit from the project through infrastructure development such as roads, communication network and improved utilities.
The project, he said, would also increase employment opportunities for Botswana and economic empowerment as well as trade facilitation.
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