The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Botswana have pledged to improve collaboration in combating transboundary crime as the sister countries consolidate cooperation in defence and security.
This follows the proliferation of white-collar crime, armed robberies and drug trafficking in the region.
The resolution was revealed in a joint communique issued at the conclusion of the third session of the Bi-National Commission between Zimbabwe and Botswana on Friday.
The Bi-National Commission, which was held in Victoria Falls, was preceded by the meeting of ministers on February 24 and the meeting of senior government officials from February 21- 23, 2022.
During official talks, the Heads of State reviewed the state of bilateral relations between the two countries.
President Mnangagwa and President Mokgweetsi Masisi expressed satisfaction with their strong historical and fraternal relations and called for the consolidation of ties in defence and security matters.
“The Heads of State expressed satisfaction with the excellent cooperation in defence and security matters. They directed the respective agencies to continue to collaborate on issues of mutual concern, particularly on combatting transboundary crime along the common border.”
The Heads of State welcomed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on cooperation in Tourism, Child Protection, Water, Agriculture and Food Security as well as Youth Development.
“The Heads of State instructed the relevant departments to urgently implement the signed instruments between the two countries,” reads the communique.
“They expressed concern over delays in concluding a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, and directed the relevant ministries and departments to expedite their finalisation by the Mid-Term Review of the third session of the BNC in November 2022.”
Concerns were expressed regarding the long-standing problem of cross-border livestock rustling, which has a devastating impact on the livelihoods of the affected communities, as well as the socio-economic development of the two countries.
President Mnangagwa and President Masisi expressed the need for the two countries to urgently address the matter.
“To this end, they established a ministerial committee to coordinate efforts towards finding solutions to the problem,” added the communique.
Zimbabwe expressed appreciation for Botswana’s unwavering commitment in calling for the removal of illegal sanctions that continue to stifle Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme.
At the multilateral level, the Heads of State welcomed the convergence of views on regional, continental and international issues, and further agreed to continue to harmonise their positions.
“In that regard, they reiterated their call for the need to reform the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
“They also reaffirmed their commitment to the common African position as enunciated in the Ezulwini Consensus.”
President Mnangagwa said the BNC had afforded Zimbabwe and Botswana the opportunity to reflect on the state of bilateral relations between Harare and Gaborone.
He said the signing of agreements and MoUs is reflective of continued areas of co-operation.
“We must, therefore, see the full implementation of these agreements. The burden is on yourselves as ministers and officials.
‘‘We the Presidents are simply supervisors.
“Coupled with hard honest work and a result-oriented culture, let us all strive to do much more for the benefit of our two countries while at the same time lifting more and more of our citizens into prosperity from poverty,” he said.
