On Saturday Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama returned home after what the president’s office describes as “a very successful” three-day state visit to Mozambique.During the visit Khama met with President Armando Guebuza for official talks on bilateral cooperation and maters of common concern.A total of 10 Memorandum of Understandings were signed between the two countries covering energy, agriculture, animal health, women, education, the environment, culture, and science and technology. Agreement was also reached for the abolition of visa requirements.President Khama also laid a wreath at Maputo’s Monument to the Mozambican Heroes, made a courtesy visit to the chairperson of the Mozambican parliament, Veronica Macamo, and received the Key to the City of Maputo from the municipal authority.During a state banquet held in his honour on Thursday, President Khama said that “we in Botswana are very mindful of the great achievements that your country has made following many years of conflict. The sound economic policies that your government has put in place over the years have made Mozambique an example of a successful transition from conflict to peace, democracy and development”.He pointed out that one of the agreements reached was for the establishment of a museum in Botswana to honour the life of the late Samora Moises Machel, who he described as “the founding father of your great nation, a national hero and freedom fighter”.
The museum is to be built in Lobatse, about 70 kilometres from the capital Gaborone. Lobatse was one of the regions that welcomed Samora Machel in 1963, when he was on his way to Tanzania to join the liberation struggle against Portuguese rule.The President lamented that the southern African region is still experiencing a number of political challenges, which he stated “could be overcome through our concerted and collective efforts”.In particular he stated that the “adherence to democratic and other principles to which we have committed, will enhance the integrity of our organisation, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)”.Madagascar is one of the problems facing the region, and President Khama said “let me take this opportunity to thank former President Joachim Chissano, for playing a leading role in mediation efforts to bring about a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Madagascar”.He lambasted the Libyan government for “embarking upon a brutal campaign of killing protesters and opponents in order to stay in power” and stated that “regime change in such situations is desirable and supported by us, as in the prosecution of such failed leadership by the International Criminal Court”.During his stay in Mozambique, the statesman also went to the National Agricultural Research Institute, Maputo port and the Matola Port Industrial Complex, and Petromoc’s Lingamo oil terminal where he toured the fuel storage facilities.According to a source in the Petromoc, Botswana wants to greatly increase the amount of fuel it receives from Petromoc because the Mozambican supply is seen as more secure than fuel from South Africa which is subject to port congestion and labour disputes.Transport was the key theme of the visit. The biggest cooperation project is the development of a deep water port at Techobanine in Maputo province, and the heavy haulage railway line linking the new port with Botswana through Zimbabwe. The project is expected to cost seven billion US dollars, but would make it easier and cheaper for Botswana to import goods, and would enable the country to develop an export market for its huge coal reserves.It is also planned to run a fuel pipeline from the port to Botswana to ease the country’s imports.President Khama was joined on the visit by the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani; the Member of Parliament for Boteti North, Slumber Tshogwane; and a number of senior government officials.
The museum is to be built in Lobatse, about 70 kilometres from the capital Gaborone. Lobatse was one of the regions that welcomed Samora Machel in 1963, when he was on his way to Tanzania to join the liberation struggle against Portuguese rule.The President lamented that the southern African region is still experiencing a number of political challenges, which he stated “could be overcome through our concerted and collective efforts”.In particular he stated that the “adherence to democratic and other principles to which we have committed, will enhance the integrity of our organisation, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)”.Madagascar is one of the problems facing the region, and President Khama said “let me take this opportunity to thank former President Joachim Chissano, for playing a leading role in mediation efforts to bring about a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Madagascar”.He lambasted the Libyan government for “embarking upon a brutal campaign of killing protesters and opponents in order to stay in power” and stated that “regime change in such situations is desirable and supported by us, as in the prosecution of such failed leadership by the International Criminal Court”.During his stay in Mozambique, the statesman also went to the National Agricultural Research Institute, Maputo port and the Matola Port Industrial Complex, and Petromoc’s Lingamo oil terminal where he toured the fuel storage facilities.According to a source in the Petromoc, Botswana wants to greatly increase the amount of fuel it receives from Petromoc because the Mozambican supply is seen as more secure than fuel from South Africa which is subject to port congestion and labour disputes.Transport was the key theme of the visit. The biggest cooperation project is the development of a deep water port at Techobanine in Maputo province, and the heavy haulage railway line linking the new port with Botswana through Zimbabwe. The project is expected to cost seven billion US dollars, but would make it easier and cheaper for Botswana to import goods, and would enable the country to develop an export market for its huge coal reserves.It is also planned to run a fuel pipeline from the port to Botswana to ease the country’s imports.President Khama was joined on the visit by the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani; the Member of Parliament for Boteti North, Slumber Tshogwane; and a number of senior government officials.
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