The Sunday Mail
It is an honour and privilege for Botswana to lead Sadc. We see this as a double honour as we also host the Sadc Secretariat.
Ambassador Kenny Kapinga
We are taking this responsibility very seriously and hope to make a lasting contribution to what Sadc achieved over the last 12 months.
Our main target is continuity.
You will remember that our President (Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama) emphasised this in his acceptance speech; continuing with initiatives that were started by his predecessor. So, he will continue with those – industrialisation; deepening integration; value-addition and beneficiation, as these are key priorities.
That is the legacy President Khama will take forward as Chair. It is also important to understand that Botswana remains guided by the 2015 Sadc Summit theme, “Accelerating Industrialisation of Sadc Economies through Transformation of Natural Endowments and Improved Human Capital”.
The theme was a modified version of the 2014 Victoria Falls theme: “Sadc Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Value Addition and Beneficiation”.
Botswana’s main pre-occupation now is beneficiating and diversifying its mineral-based economy. So, for us, it is also an opportunity to join our national priorities with those of the region.
Human capital is important because goals cannot be achieved without skills, and having resources alone is not enough.
Southern Africa is a very stable region and we should be proud of this. The Sadc Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap is a well-crafted ground-breaking document. We should thank Zimbabwe for setting the pace, thereby leaving Botswana with a sound footing to start from.
I am convinced that if Sadc countries put money into these plans, then the region will definitely industrialise and its economies will grow. What this means is our top priority, as Chair, would be to achieve regional economic growth and create environments conducive to such growth. Former President Ketumile Masire used to say, “Everything is the economy.”
For you to enjoy everything, you need to have a strong and viable economy. If the economy is not doing well, it deprives you the right to enjoy your political independence and even basic human rights like water, nutrition, health and education. This all depends on a sound economy.
It is, therefore, very important for us to grow our economies by adhering to good corporate governance in the public sector.
This is what Botswana will advance as Sadc Chair. We will also put zero tolerance on corruption and other misdemeanours like racketeering, which stifle economic growth.
Further, funding is crucial, especially in regards to the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap. A funding strategy is required and we already have it, though it needs to be improved on.
Areas we should look at in terms of funding include transnational or cross-border projects.
These are projects that may be initiated in one country, but then benefit other countries in the region. Sadc can facilitate money from international financial corporations and partners for projects whose benefits cut across borders.
A good example is the Ponta Techobanine Inter-Regional Heavy Haul Railway Project between Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. Botswana intends to export large volumes of coal to East Asia. There are, therefore, talks among Botswana and Zimbabwe to set up a rail link that will take coal to a port in Mozambique.
That is a major project, which, if executed, can significantly integrate economic activity among these three countries. A number of meetings have been held and the idea has been agreed to. According to (latest) information what remains is assessing the state of readiness and infrastructure between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Railway lines should be readied for that kind of transportation, and investment is needed for railway infrastructure and other supporting systems. This deal is in the pipeline.
There have been delays and it is running behind schedule as it is supposed to have been commissioned by next year.
It is still on course, though.
We are a good coal producer, and Zimbabwe has been importing some of our coal for a number of years. On the other hand, Botswana has been importing special agricultural equipment and other products from Zimbabwe.
There is no reason why this trade cannot be expanded. All this will lead to enhanced regional economic integration; infrastructure development and economic exchange among the three countries. Trade between Zimbabwe and Botswana has naturally gone down because the number of Zimbabweans buying products in Botswana has declined because of the improved economic situation here.
What needs to be done is find new avenues like we are doing now.
There is a lot of opportunity between the two countries. We have a lot of raw materials such as soda ash, fly ash, and other raw materials.
Zimbabwe has been supplying farming implements to Botswana and once its industry is revived, it can do so in a much bigger way.
Most farmers in Botswana are still subsistence and the implements made in Zimbabwe are useful to them.
You cannot just go around exploring for minerals without the necessary permits. We have a flexible licensing regime for mining, which has seen a lot of companies coming to invest. This is why we are ranked one of the most favourable countries to invest in, especially in mining.
In diamonds, we managed to set up Debtswana, a 50-50 partnership between government and De Beers.
Our founding leaders – in shaping our foreign policy – resolved that Botswana should be good to all its neighbours and it will do so by not interfering in the domestic affairs of any country.
Sadc leadership is a joint responsibility; nobody should expect President Khama to bring any wholesome transformation.
He will obviously bring his personal touch, but people should know that he will work closely with the preceding and succeeding Chairs in the spirit of the troika leadership of Sadc.
He will also work closely with President Mugabe because he is African Union Chair.
So, this is something President Khama can leverage on.
In addition, Botswana will take the opportunity to ensure accelerated regional economic integration.
A high priority area for us is infrastructure, and we want to expand infrastructure for water and electricity as this is very important, especially as we can then help each other in times of crisis.
For instance, Zimbabwe can sell power to Botswana; South Africa can sell power to Namibia and so forth.
◆ Ambassador Kenny Kapinga is Botswana’s chief diplomat in Zimbabwe. This article is transcribed from an interview by our Chief Reporter Kuda Bwititi in Harare on September 3, 2015.
