He said the President is the country’s Principal Diplomat and as such continues to play a crucial role in advancing Botswana’s foreign policy through promoting national interests at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
Masisi, who has even popularised the phrase “Ke a le tsamaela”, has been heavily criticised for his non-stop trips outside the country. At some point last year, members of the party he is leading, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) wanted him to limit international travel to focus on electoral campaigns ahead of the 2024 General Election.
They wanted him to consider reducing his travels outside the country and redirect his energies on charting the course to victory for the party by rather focusing on campaigns.
This week in Parliament, Kwape said it should be appreciated that the President’s external engagements are crucial as they are aimed at progressing the country’s foreign policy for the benefit of the nation. “Naturally, participation at international fora accords Masisi the opportunity to engage with his peers on a wide range of issues as well as giving the country a chance to be at the table to help with shaping the global agenda. It also affords us the opportunity to meet with other leaders in the margins thereof, with a view to advance and maintain our good and friendly relations, aimed at engaging in trade relations that will improve our socio-economic development and the livelihoods of our people,” Kwape stated.
Kwape was making a presentation on the benefits that accrue from Masisi’s external engagements. He added that benefits with partner countries have also been reaped through the President’s participation at Bi-National Commissions (BNCs). On the regional and continental fronts, Kwape said Masisi has led Botswana’s delegations to SADC and AU meetings and effectively utilised these gatherings to articulate the country’s position on a wide range of issues geared towards the advancement of the regional integration agenda and the shaping of the ‘Africa we Want’.
“Under the leadership of Masisi, we have seen Botswana play a key role in support of regional efforts geared towards maintaining peace and security in the SADC region through initiatives such as the deployment of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM). Through the President’s participation at UN meetings, Botswana is making meaningful contributions to the development of global solutions to challenges such as climate change. Still on the global platform, we have witnessed the President promote Botswana’s image abroad as a respected and influential player,” Kwape emphasised. On the whole, Kwape said the President’s external engagements include the advancement of the country’s economic diplomacy agenda and Botswana is promoted as a favourable destination for investment and tourism.
“The President’s external engagements provide a vital platform to highlight Botswana’s position on specific issues of national interest, thereby influencing and shaping international policy and ensuring our national policy aspirations are taken on board,” Kwape pointed out. Kwape also revealed that Masisi’s engagements abroad ensure that the country is positively profiled internationally. “The dividends are evident. We continue to witness an increase in Batswana being placed in strategic leadership positions globally.
In essence, the President’s external engagements are central to advancing Botswana’s national interests on behalf of all the ordinary Batswana”, he said. Last year in July, Mmegi reported that President Masisi had been away for a total number of 48 days since the beginning of 2022. Masisi then had visited 11 countries and had covered a distance of approximately 111,680km. Commenting on Kwape’s statement, Bobonong legislator Taolo Lucas asked how much the President’s trips cost and how many jobs the trips had created for the unemployed Batswana especially the youth. Lucas also wanted to know how much in foreign direct investment Masisi’s trips have brought and how many foreign companies have opened business in Botswana to employ and benefit Batswana. For his part MP for Gantsi South Motsamai Motsamai asked if it was proper for money to be spent on ineffectual trips while the funds could have been spent on reducing the rate of unemployment among the youth. In response to Lucas’s question, Kwape refused to answer saying the latter does not attend Parliament therefore, his question was answered in the house before.
Kwape added that the issue of unemployment is also a concern for the government but there is no way Motsamai can rule out Masisi’s trips as worthless because a lot has been achieved. Last year in Parliament, the Assistant Minister for State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu revealed that President Masisi had undertaken 60 international and 66 local trips both official and private, that cost over P18 million since he assumed office in 2018.
According to Mthimkhulu, the total cost of the President's external trips from 2018 to 2022 is P18,004,990.43 while the total cost of internal trips is P861,903.87. "The purpose and benefits of all of His Excellency the President’s local trips was to engage, consult and update members of the citizenry about government’s policies and programmes as well as advance his Administration’s mandate. The purpose and benefits of all of His Excellency the President’s international trips was to position Botswana’s foreign policy and advance Botswana’s national interest", he said.
