Mogae visits pay P1bn dividends - Merafhe

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday November 30, 2007 00:00

He said that during a recent trip to the United States of America by President Mogae, the partners in the Africa Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership, (ACHAP) such as Bill and Melinda Gates and Merk Company Foundation renewed their partnership with Botswana until 2009 and pledged additional P39 million on top of the P300 million they had each contributed in the first five years of the ACHAP programme. The total contribution of ACHAP partners since its inception is presently P678 million, Merafhe said.

He added that through The Presidential Emergency Relief Fund for AIDS (PEPFAR), the US government has since 2004 provided Botswana with financial assistance to the tune of P1.2billion towards the fight against AIDS. 'There are indications that the annual financial support Botswana will get under PEPFAR will again increase during the fiscal year 2008 increase by P396 million,' the minister said. The reintroduction of the Peace Corps programme followed President Mogae's appeal to US President George W Bush. 

Other contributions have been made by the Indian government, a grant of P13.4 million annually for the next five years; Chinese government, P10 million for construction of two primary schools and an interest-free loan of P30 million for the establishment of botanical gardens and a further P2million grant for medical equipment.

In addition, President Mogae's trip to Japan last year has resulted in Japanese investors showing interest in Mmamabula Export Power Station. The Japanese minister of economy, trade and industry recently visited Botswana and an agreement to cooperate in the areas of mineral exploration and skills transfer was signed. Merafhe also revealed that the Japanese government has announced its intentions to open a resident mission in Gaborone next year.

President Mogae is retiring next March when he is scheduled to hand over to his deputy, Ian Khama Seretse Khama.