Southern Africa: Mogae Calls for Regional Integration
BOTSWANA President, Festus Mogae, has called for enhanced regional integration to solve some of the challenges that his country and Zambia are facing as they strive to achieve economic sustenance.
Mr Mogae who officially opened the Lusaka Agriculture and Commercial Show yesterday, said he had no doubt that the potential of Zambia to grow its economy lay deeply in the use of the local natural resources and human resource through empowerment.
He said challenges such as the looming electricity shortage in the region could be addressed through regional integration and full utilisation of bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The increased demand for electricity in the region was an indication of increasing economic development.
Poverty still remained a big challenge for Zambia and his country, hence the desire to empower the people through various skills.
Mr Mogae said the theme of this year's show of 'Economic Empowerment' was appropriate as both Zambia and Botswana had initiated similar plans of empowering their people.
"Economic empowerment should be opening opportunities for the families and the rich people," he said.
He said good governance, prudent management of resources and the fight against corruption were some of the key incentives to improve the economy of the country.
Mr Mogae commended the organisers of the show for bringing various exhibitors together to showcase how effective applications of knowledge and resources could benefit the country.
He praised Zambia for the good maize harvest experienced last season of over 1.5 billion tonnes as it was able to feed the whole region.
Mr Mogae revealed that some farmers in the north of Botswana were importing maize and other agricultural products from Zambia because of the drought experienced in that country.
He assured the private sector that SADC recognised its role in supporting various governments' efforts through constant consultations that were positive all the time.
"There can be no empowerment of the people without the involvement of the private sector," he said.
He said resources such as minerals should be used for the benefit of the people, although educational skills were the best empowerment citizens could be given.
"The sale of natural resources has been put to more scrutiny in the region than the sale of arms. The challenge as SADC leaders is on how we use the natural resources," he said.
On trade and investment, Mr Mogae called for the production of quality goods in the region that would stand the stiff international competition anywhere.
He said SADC should also strive to achieve the various trade protocols agreed upon in the region without any compromise on quality.
