Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
PRESIDENT Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has celebrated the deep ties of friendship that exist between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
He was speaking at a State Banquet held in honour of Botswana President Advocate Duma Boko, at State House, Tuesday night, a symbolic gesture reflecting the strong diplomatic ties between Harare and Gaborone.
Zimbabwe and Botswana relations continue to grow from strength to strength, underpinned by shared history, mutual respect, and a common vision for regional development.
President Duma Boko is in the country on a working visit that is expected to unlock new opportunities for cooperation across key sectors of the economy.
President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is forever indebted to Botswana for the principled and courageous solidarity as well as material support towards the cause of Zimbabwe’s independence, as it extended shelter, sustenance and safe passage to Zimbabwe’s freedom fighters.
“Today we convene, not just as neighbours, but as family; bound by a shared past and common purpose towards a prosperous future for our respective countries and region. Undoubtedly, my Dear Brother, we have the privilege and immense responsibility to carry forward the strong and excellent relations between our two nations. These are cemented on the basis of blood relations, the history between our two peoples, and the unbreakable bonds of the liberation struggle. Zimbabwe is forever indebted to Botswana for the principled and courageous solidarity as well as material support towards the cause of our independence. Botswana extended shelter, sustenance and safe passage to Zimbabwe’s freedom fighters. Many cadres and communities bear testimony to the generosity and compassion of the people of Botswana. We remember and salute the members of the Botswana Defence Forces who were killed during the Lesoma Ambush on 27 February 1978 by the racist and oppressive Rhodesian regime. That incident, among many others throughout SADC, reminds us that the democracy, independence, peace and security we are enjoying were paid for by the supreme sacrifice of the peoples of this region,” he said.
In honour and appreciation of Botswana’s historic contribution to the liberation of the continent, President Dr Mnangagwa invited Botswana to participate in the Museum of African Liberation Project, announcing a donation of land on the premises.
He also said notable milestones have been reached in the fields of agriculture, youth and women empowerment, with trade and investment relations registering steady and encouraging progress.
“Trade and investment relations are registering steady and encouraging progress. We must leverage our respective strengths and opportunities to position our economies as competitive and integrated hubs within the region, under the African Continental Free Trade Area and SADC. The reciprocal participation in our flagship trade exhibitions, including Zimbabwe’s presence at Global Expo Botswana and Botswana’s strong presence and participation at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), has provided a practical platform for showcasing products, fostering partnerships and unlocking new market opportunities. These efforts have resulted in the conclusion of trade deals and expansion of export opportunities across sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and services,” President Dr Mnangagwa said
President Dr Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe remains a steadfast advocate for peace, justice and multi-lateralism, in defence of the United Nations Charter, expressing gratitude to Botswana’s dependable support for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027 to 2028.
“We meet at a time when the global landscape is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable. It is plagued by climate change, geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and evolving security threats. These developments remind us that no nation can stand alone. Zimbabwe remains a steadfast advocate for peace, justice, and multilateralism in defence of the United Nations Charter. We continue to be dedicated to working closely with Botswana at the bilateral level as well as regional, continental and international fora, to promote peace, stability and a just global order founded on sovereign equality of nations. May I take the opportunity of this occasion to thank you, Your Excellency and Dear Brother for Botswana’s dependable support for Zimbabwe’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027 to 2028,” he said.
In response, Botswana President Advocate Duma Boko paid homage to historical links that continue to influence present and future engagements saying these are crucial stepping stones in both countries’ sustained development.
“We gather this evening in celebration, and I wish to reaffirm the enduring bonds that unite our two countries, bonds formed through geographic proximity and kingship, bonds anchored in a shared history, in mutual respect and in good neighbourliness. Tomorrow I will have the honour and the rare privilege to co-chair with His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe a session of the Botswana-Zimbabwe Binational Commission. This forum remains a cornerstone of our bilateral engagement framework and one that provides a structured and forward-looking purpose-driven platform to advance our shared agenda and deepen our collaboration for the well-being and livelihoods of our citizens,” he said.
Advocate Boko noted that cooperation in agriculture in combating foot and mouth disease is bearing results crucial in ensuring food self-sustainability in Zimbabwe, Botswana, the SADC region and beyond.
“I made a call to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the government, and the people of Zimbabwe responded swiftly and compassionately to our call. They provided medical supplies that assisted us immensely. We express our sincere thanks and appreciation for this gesture of solidarity and brotherhood. This gesture, this responsiveness, exemplifies Zimbabwe’s true spirit of solidarity, and it cemented our cooperation in the health sector and human capital development. Equally commendable is our collaboration in the agricultural sector, notably in the management and control of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease along our shared border. Through coordinated vaccination campaigns, which we have begun and will intensify together with the Republic of Zimbabwe, through technical cooperation and exchange of expertise, we have demonstrated the power of collective action in safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring regional food security. These efforts are especially significant in light of the unprecedented outbreaks across southern Africa of foot and mouth disease, where the resurgence of the disease poses a threat, a real and imminent threat to economic stability and rural livelihoods,” he said.
The Zimbabwe-Botswana cooperation was upgraded to a Bi-National Commission in 2019 with the goal of spurring socio-economic and political cooperation of the two republics.
Since then, several agreements have been signed in areas of agriculture, immigration, energy and infrastructure development.
