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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
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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