President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama will focus on industrialisation and regional integration during his term as the Southern Africa Development Committee (SADC) chairperson.
Delivering the State-of-the-Nation-Address yesterday (November 9), President Khama said Botswana needed to work closely with the international community to ensure its survival and prosperity.
“My focus as SADC chair is to give meaning to our commitments to industrialisation and regional integration with a view to achieve sustainable development. In this respect, I will be guided by the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Plan (2015-2020), which was approved at the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit held in Harare on 29 April 2015,” President Khama said.
On Botswana’s relations with other countries, he explained that the country continued to make modest contribution towards consolidation of democracy in the region.
“We have participated in SADC elections observer missions. The recent adoption of the revised SADC guidelines and principles governing democratic elections in the region is a notable milestone,” he said.
Furthermore, President Khama said he was pleased to see the political climate being stable in most SADC countries. “We shall also continue to monitor developments in other parts of our continent, and make our modest contribution where we can,” he said.
He said Botswana believed that for Africa to achieve economic development, it needed peace and security as well as consolidation of good governance. He also said Botswana would continue to play her part as a compassionate member of the international community.
“We will continue to contribute to various appeals for assistance for victims of natural disasters, and participate in global efforts such as ongoing efforts to stem the spread of the Ebola virus,” he said.
He said Botswana remained committed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Criminal Justice system, adding that the country would continue supporting the ICC and cooperating with its operations.