13 Feb 2025

The successful completion of the state of the art Botswana chancery in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will go a long a way in saving huge amounts spent on rental over the last 20 years.

The collosal structure built at the tune of over P100 million will be officially opened by President Advocate Duma Boko, who will be making his maiden appearance and speech at the 38^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

In an interview on the margins of the AU Summit, Botswana Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr Tebelelo Buang said the building, which was a great milestone had been occupied since last July.

“Rental has hemorrhaged the country in a big way and this building which has both office and residential spaces for officers comes with a huge relief,’’ he said.

On Batswana who have found employment with AU, Mr Buang was happy that a total of 14 Batswana had enlisted with the African Union Commission.

‘’It is our duty to publicise all openings as the Embassy to ensure that Batswana back home are not left behind but apply for these posts. We share with ministries such as the Ministry of International Relations issues such as employment quotas allotted Botswana to give our people a chance to apply for the posts,’’ he stated further.

He therefore called on Botswana to frequent portals such as that of the Ministry of International Affairs as well as the Botswana Embassy in Ethiopia portal and many other international organisations portals to look for job openings.

On Agenda 2063, a blueprint for AU to further enhance and entrench free trade across the motherland, Ambassador Buang said Botswana as a bonafide member and signatory stood to benefit handsomely upon the full operationalisation of the agreement deemed by many as the game-changer in the African trade space.

He said Botswana as a beacon of peace had thus seen it important to be a member of the Peace and Security Council of the AU to influence fellow AU member states on the all-important ingredient of a peaceful environment which is key to economic boom and emancipation of the 1.4 billion Africans.

‘’We working tirelessly with different ministries and departments back home to make sure that Batswana will benefit a great deal from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he said. ENDS