Source: President Boko jets in for State visit – herald
Zimpapers Reporter
BOTSWANA President Duma Boko is expected in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for a three-day State visit, where he will co-chair a high-level bilateral meeting and also officially open this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
In a statement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade spokesperson Mrs Philisiwe Chidawanyika said President Boko will visit Zimbabwe at the invitation of President Mnangagwa.
“During the historic State visit, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, and His Excellency President Duma Gideon Boko will jointly preside over the Fifth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC), at which deliberations will focus on transformative areas of cooperation, including trade and investment; agriculture and food security; infrastructure, transport and logistics development; energy; tourism; strengthening of health systems; and the deepening of people-to-people relations, including through skills development and human capital enhancement,” said Mrs Chidawanyika.
She added that the two leaders are expected “to provide bold and strategic direction to accelerate the implementation of agreed programmes and projects”, particularly in unlocking cross-border economic opportunities and enhancing regional connectivity.
As part of his itinerary, President Boko will also be guest of honour at the official opening of the 66th edition of the ZITF on April 23 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.
“In further strengthening economic diplomacy and regional industrialisation, His Excellency President Boko will . . . officiate as guest of honour at the official opening of the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair,” she said.
The BNC meetings will precede the leaders’ summit, beginning with senior officials’ engagements today and tomorrow, followed by a ministerial segment on Tuesday.
The ministerial meeting will be co-chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and Botswana’s Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale.
President Boko’s visit, Mrs Chidawanyika said, was “a testament to the enduring bonds of friendship, solidarity and shared history between Zimbabwe and Botswana”, adding that it reflects both countries’ commitment to regional integration under frameworks such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“The Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe is ready to warmly welcome His Excellency, President Duma Gideon Boko, and his delegation, and reaffirms its commitment to advancing a dynamic, mutually beneficial and future-oriented partnership with the Republic of Botswana.”
The forthcoming meeting follows the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana BNC held in February 2024 in Maun, Botswana, where Harare and Gaborone reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation.
The BNC is the highest formal platform for cooperation between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
It brings together senior government officials, ministers and Heads of State to review progress on existing agreements, identify new areas of collaboration and resolve any bottlenecks affecting implementation.
Typically structured in three tiers — senior officials, ministers and Heads of State — the BNC ensures continuity in bilateral relations by translating political commitments into concrete programmes and projects.
Its significance lies in coordinating cooperation across key sectors such as trade, infrastructure, energy and agriculture, while also strengthening diplomatic ties and promoting regional integration.
Outcomes from BNC meetings often shape joint investments, cross-border initiatives and policy alignment between the two countries.
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