Ndingililo Gaoswediwe

GABORONE

President Advocate Duma Boko says Botswana has resolved to open an embassy in Moscow, Russia, as part of efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries, with a designated representative awaiting the conclusion of final engagements.

He said relations between Botswana and Russia date back to before the formal establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970, reflecting a llong-standingrelationship shaped by former political leaders who played a role in the liberation of Africa.

Speaking during a farewell courtesy call by Russian Ambassador Andrey Kemarskiy in Gaborone on Tuesday, President Boko said Botswana could benefit from Russia’s cutting-edge expertise in various sectors.

He expressed appreciation for the services rendered by Ambassador Kemarskiy during his six-year tenure and wished him well in his continued representation of Botswana.

In his remarks, Ambassador Kemarskiy thanked the government for the hospitality and support he received during his tenure. He expressed hope for new avenues of dialogue and bilateral engagement that would create opportunities in sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture and education.

Meanwhile, when responding to the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) lobbying mission during a separate courtesy call, President Boko said there was no challenge in signing agreements, but translating their principles into practical legislation was the challenge.

He said Botswana was committed to addressing the shortcomings but stressed the need for thorough engagement, adding that existing stumbling blocks had to be dealt with first.

Earlier, the vice president of the SADC-PF, Ms Silvia Luca-Izaks, had described President Boko as a transformative and inspirational leader and stressed the need to sign and ratify revised protocols. She said gender inequality remained a reality and appealed to the President to ensure the implementation of existing agreements.

Ms Nxumalo said achieving gender equality required a joint effort from different stakeholders, noting that women continued to face barriers in the political sphere, including a lack of resources. She called for equal access and representation, advocating for quotas for women in various sectors.

Echoing Ms Nxumalo’s sentiments, one member from the SADC-PF mission gave an example that women’s representation in Botswana Parliament has dropped from 11 per cent to 8.9 per cent, an indication that there was disparity between women and men.

But through gradual improvements, she indicated that Botswana could be on par with countries such as South Africa and Tanzania, with women accounting for 43 per cent and 40 per cent of parliament, respectively.

© BOPA