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Botswana eyes AfCFTA breakthrough

Making history: Presidentm Masisi signing onto the AfCFTA in Addis Ababa in 2019. Most African countries have ratified it PIC: BW GOVT FACEBOOK
Making history: Presidentm Masisi signing onto the AfCFTA in Addis Ababa in 2019. Most African countries have ratified it PIC: BW GOVT FACEBOOK

Local trade negotiators believe they have found solutions that can resolve a four-year stalemate that has kept Botswana as one of a handful of countries yet to ratify the African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA, which came into operation last year, is an African Union trade deal that grants easier access to the continent’s 1.2 billion people who collectively represent a market valued at more than $2.6 trillion.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi signed onto the AfCFTA in 2019 making Botswana the 51st of 54 African nations to agree in principle to the continental trade deal. Since then Botswana has been hammering out the modalities of the deal both as a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and at the African Union level.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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