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Boko commits to SADC regional integration agenda

President Duma Boko
President Duma Boko

A historic milestone was achieved in Gaborone over the weekend with the official handover of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Headquarters.

Speaking at the event, President Duma Boko reiterated Botswana's unwavering commitment to SADC's regional integration agenda during the ceremony. The ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries including President of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of SADC Emmerson Mnangagwa; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers Professor Amon Murwira. Others were Executive Secretary of SADC, Elias Magosi and representatives from SADC member states, including ambassadors, high commissioners, and government officials from Zimbabwe and Botswana. The project of constructing the SADC Headquarters in Botswana began over two decades ago. The idea was first proposed at the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Luanda, Angola, in March 2003, when Botswana offered a plot in Gaborone's Central Business District (CBD). A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement was established in August 2009, involving SADC, Bongwe Investments (Proprietary) Limited, and the Government of Botswana as a guarantor. This agreement facilitated the construction of the headquarters, concluding on December 11, 2024.

Boko highlighted the collaborative efforts and technical expertise provided by Botswana's ministries of Transport and Public Works, and Finance, to ensure the successful completion and handover of the building. The process, which began in March 2023, was finalised with the official transfer of the SADC House building and assets from Bongwe Investments to SADC. In his address, Boko emphasised that the SADC Headquarters is more than just a physical structure but represented the region's collective journey, achievements, and future aspirations. “It is a place where we will continue to build on our successes as a region, address emerging challenges, and strive for greater achievements. “As I draw to the conclusion of my address, I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate Botswana’s commitment to SADC’s regional integration agenda and that of the African continent at large,” he said. Boko expressed his gratitude to the SADC Heads of State and Government for entrusting Botswana with hosting the SADC Headquarters and the SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot. He saw this as a testament to the trust and confidence placed in Botswana as a member state. He also paid tribute to the forerunners and founding fathers of SADC, recognising their visionary leadership and the legacy they have left behind.

For his part, Mnangagwa said the building symbolised good cooperation and unity among member states. "The SADC house stands as a towering symbol of solidarity, unity, freedom, and independence, and most importantly, brings us together as a region," Mnangagwa said. He praised Botswana for giving the property on which the SADC Secretariat offices are built, emphasising that the enabling environment allows the secretariat to successfully carry out its mandate. Later in the afternoon, President Boko, together with Dr. Mnangagwa, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot (RLD) in Rasesa, Kgatleng District. The Government of Botswana has allocated 19 hectares of land for the depot in Rasesa, underscoring its commitment to fostering regional peace and stability. Mnangagwa, in his capacity as SADC chairperson, performed the groundbreaking to mark the start of construction. "This groundbreaking ceremony is timely and marks a significant stride in our journey towards promoting and consolidating peace, stability and security in our region," said Mnangagwa.

"Regrettably, the last four years have seen our region witnessing complex and multifaceted threats to peace and security. These require urgent and collective regional responses,” he said. Mnangagwa said only $15 million of the $45 million required to complete the facility has been raised, and appealed to international partners to come to the SADC's aid. Boko said the depot will give the SADC the capacity to intervene in strife-torn regions. "People are unsafe in some of their countries. They face strife, they face belligerent hostilities. They are in distress and they are looking for help and we in SADC have taken it upon ourselves when these calls of distress are raised to step in, to step up and come to the rescue we set up therefore, a force through which we intervene in some of these situations,” he said.

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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