What the Botswana-Lesotho Bi-National Commission means for regional cooperation
Botswana and Lesotho have formalised a new phase in their bilateral relationship by signing a Bi-National Commission (BNC) agreement aimed at deepening regional cooperation.
The BNC replaces the earlier Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation, which had seen little progress, the Daily News reports.
Signed by Botswana’s Minister for International Relations, Dr. Phenyo Butale, and Lesotho’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, the BNC seeks to drive strategic collaboration in areas such as trade, tourism, water management, mining, agriculture, education, and diplomatic consultations.
Dr. Butale emphasised the need for practical implementation of agreements, cautioning against signing multiple MoUs without measurable outcomes. “We are in a hurry as Botswana to industrialise and create jobs and hurried implementation is crucial,” he said, proposing annual review meetings to ensure accountability.
Mpotjoane added that “the newly signed instrument would further enable the two nations to expand more on areas that were unexplored.”
The signing was witnessed by Botswana’s President Duma Boko and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Samuel Matekane.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
