Ahmed Salem

وصل الرئيس البوتسواني، دوما بوكو، إلى العاصمة كيب تاون، بجنوب إفريقيا، للمشاركة في قمة رؤساء دول وحكومات الاتحاد الجمركي لجنوب إفريقيا.

ويُعدّ الاتحاد الجمركي لجنوب أفريقيا، بوصفه أحد أقدم الاتحادات الجمركية في العالم، أداةً حيويةً لتعزيز التنمية الإقليمية، والتنافسية، والمرونة الاقتصادية الجماعية.

وتحرص بوتسوانا، على الالتزام، بالعمل مع الدول الأعضاء الأخرى لفتح آفاق أوسع، وتقوية سلاسل القيمة الإقليمية، وبناء اقتصاد متكامل يُحقق فوائد ملموسة لمواطنينا.

يكمن ازدهار منطقتنا في المستقبل في شراكات أقوى، وتكامل أعمق، والتزام مشترك بالنمو الاقتصادي الشامل.

شراكة جديدة بين بوتسوانا وليسوتو

وعلى صعيد آخر، دخلت كل من بوتسوانا وليسوتو مرحلة جديدة في علاقاتهما الثنائية، عقب انعقاد session The opening session of the joint bilateral committee between the two countries, which brought together President Douma Poko and Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokwani Matekane.

The meeting witnessed a mutual affirmation of the importance of expanding cooperation in vital sectors that support sustainable development and promote regional integration in southern Africa.

In his opening remarks, President Douma Poko described the new committee as a platform to transform the historic friendship between the two countries into a practical strategic partnership aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

He stressed that Botswana and Lesotho are not only geographically close, but also deeply historical and culturally connected, and share a common vision for the future.

He also announced that Botswana would provide hundreds of thousands of doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine to Lesotho to help it cope with the first recorded outbreak of the disease within the country, considering this step to reflect the spirit of solidarity and brotherhood between the two peoples.

The Botswanan president pointed to broad opportunities for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, agricultural manufacturing, education, health, tourism, culture and creative industries, in addition to the emerging industrial hemp sector, where Lesotho has expertise that Botswana can benefit from.

He also called for investment in the knowledge economy and the use of modern technologies, while stressing the need to preserve cultural heritage and local knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence.

Among the most prominent issues discussed was the water transfer project between Lesotho and Botswana, which Boko described as a strategic priority to ensure his country's long-term water security. He also revealed South Africa's interest in joining the project, which could transform it into a trilateral initiative that strengthens regional cooperation.