News / National
Botswana President arrives for meeting with Mnangagwa
27 Feb 2019 at 18:35hrs | Views
The President of Botswana, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has arrived in the country for the inaugural Zimbabwe Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) with his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa tomorrow.
Mr Masisi was welcomed at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by President Mnangagwa and the two vice presidents; Cde Kembo Mohadi and Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, as well as several Zimbabwean ministers.
A banquet for the Botswana leader will be held this evening ahead of the big day tomorrow, where eight memoranda of understanding and agreements covering political and diplomatic, economic, social and defence and security are expected to be signed.
Among the issues under consideration are two offers by Botswana namely: a US$1 billion credit facility to support the private sector and another US$500 million diamond backed facility.
An advance delegation from Botswana is already in the country, with Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Mrs Unity Dow having arrived yesterday.
Speaking to the ZBC News soon after arrival, Mrs Dow said as good neighbours, Zimbabwe and Botswana need to constantly sit down and compare notes on how people on both sides are faring and tighten issues in areas that are lagging behind.
Preparatory meetings for the BNC commenced on Monday with permanent secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries exhorting the relevant government departments in charge of implementing the agreed cooperation bilateral projects to move with speed and produce tangible results for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
The Zimbabwe-Botswana BNC, which is the highest bilateral framework of cooperation between the two countries, replaced the Joint Permanent Commission on cooperation between the two countries at a decision made in Botswana in February 2018.
The Zimbabwe-Botswana BNC comes ahead of another scheduled visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa soon for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
The two BNCs are a major milestone in Zimbabwe's engagement and reengagement thrust.
Mr Masisi was welcomed at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by President Mnangagwa and the two vice presidents; Cde Kembo Mohadi and Retired General Constantino Chiwenga, as well as several Zimbabwean ministers.
A banquet for the Botswana leader will be held this evening ahead of the big day tomorrow, where eight memoranda of understanding and agreements covering political and diplomatic, economic, social and defence and security are expected to be signed.
Among the issues under consideration are two offers by Botswana namely: a US$1 billion credit facility to support the private sector and another US$500 million diamond backed facility.
An advance delegation from Botswana is already in the country, with Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Mrs Unity Dow having arrived yesterday.
Preparatory meetings for the BNC commenced on Monday with permanent secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries exhorting the relevant government departments in charge of implementing the agreed cooperation bilateral projects to move with speed and produce tangible results for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
The Zimbabwe-Botswana BNC, which is the highest bilateral framework of cooperation between the two countries, replaced the Joint Permanent Commission on cooperation between the two countries at a decision made in Botswana in February 2018.
The Zimbabwe-Botswana BNC comes ahead of another scheduled visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa soon for the third session of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
The two BNCs are a major milestone in Zimbabwe's engagement and reengagement thrust.
Source - zbc
