The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi on 21st June, 2023 met with the Ambassador of the United States of America to Botswana His Excellency Ambassador Howard A. Van Vranken and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Botswana and SADC, His Excellency Mr. Gjermund Saether to discuss issues of development cooperation.
During separate meetings with the two envoys, H.E Magosi emphasised that the SADC region is in its second year of implementing the activities and programmes outlined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 which draws impetus from the organisation’s Vision 2050and guided by the purposes and principles of the SADC Treaty and Agenda.
H.E. Magosi highlighted the important role of cooperating partners like the United States and Norway in supporting SADC programmes which are aimed at improving the lives of the people of the region. On this note, H.E. Magosi briefed the envoys of the prioritized, high impact projects derived from the RISDP 2020-2030 whose successful implementation will require collaborative effort and financial support from SADC cooperating partners.
He highlighted to the envoys that the SADC region remains generally stable and peaceful, notwithstanding political challenges in some of the Member States, including acts of terrorism and violent extremism in the northern part of Mozambique and the resurgence of armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In recognition of the work done by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the development agency of the United States federal government, H.E. Magosi stated that significant progress has been made in programmes such as food security, agriculture, trade, the environment, HIV and AIDS, and youth empowerment.
On the support from Norway, H.E Magosi applauded the efforts made by Norway on its contribution to research and information support carried out in partnership with the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) on the development of the energy sector, hydroelectricity and other regional energy sources.
On his part, US Ambassador Vranken highlighted the significance of the United States role in the SADC region as a partner in the consolidation of democracy and providing support to projects targeted at enhancing the region's socio-economic aspirations. He stated that the United States of America is the largest single bilateral partner in Africa, and has been a long-standing strategic partner, and continues to work with African countries to offer technical and financial support for both public and private sectors.
Ambassador Saether of Norway pointed out that his country has dedicated itself to continuing its support to multiple programmes in the SADC region, including energy operations, wind and solar energy, oil and gas. He expressed the commitment of Norway to continued support in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in the DRC and Mozambique, stating that his government is providing humanitarian response for building prosperity and a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, natural disasters, and the effects of climate change.
The parties agreed to continue working closely, strengthening ties, and looking into potential areas of cooperation that will bring the required socio-economic development, peace and security in the SADC region and globally.
