18 Aug 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is not happy with the pace at which regional integration is moving.

His sentiments resonates with other regional leaders at the just ended SADC heads of state and government summit that was held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

In this regard, he said there would be a special summit before the next main SADC summit in August next year to push integration of the region’s economies.

“Ministers of trade, finance and transport have been tasked to meet and come up with firm proposals which can push integration of our economies because we are not really satisfied that we are doing enough in that regard,” he said.

On other issues, he said Botswana’s support for the candidate for the Commonwealth secretary general position was on the agenda.

He also said as Botswana and Mozambique head for elections in October, and Namibia in November, SADC would send an election observer mission to these countries.

Concerning the Ebola virus disease, he said Botswana has put some measures in place to ensure the limit of any opportunities for the disease outbreak. 

He said SADC ministers recently met in Johannesburg to coordinate efforts in the region to ensure there were minimal chances of Ebola coming to the region.

He said ministers also made resolutions as to what steps should be taken in the event there was a case in the region and steps to be taken to deal with it.

He said SADC also discussed a number of issues including election of the chairperson for SADC next year and deputy chairperson.

President Khama said the meeting also received reports about political and security situations at Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho.

“As you know, Madagascar recently held elections after a period of political instability and Lesotho where currently there are challenges in the political arena,” he said.Ends