Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Monday held bilateral talks with his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera on a raft of issues of mutual interest, including cooperation and deepening of bilateral relations.
The two held their discussions at the Kamuzu Palace in the Malawian capital Lilongwe during the day-long working visit, which also saw President Masisi become the first foreign head of state to visit Malawi since President Chakwera’s historic election in June last year.
The leaders also discussed education and the research and management of the COVID-19 pandemic which has exerted a heavy toll on both countries.
President Masisi also took the opportunity to present Botswana’s candidate for Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Elias Magosi, and asked President Chakwera to throw his weight behind his candidature.
“Let me officially ask the people of Malawi through Your Excellency to support your brother Elias Magosi, a Batswana dedicated young man and well qualified who is now vying for the position of Executive Secretary for SADC. I have made this official because I believe our diplomatic ties have a lot in common,” President Masisi was quoted by Nyasa Times as saying.
In turn, President Masisi assured President Chakwera of Botswana’s support in Malawi taking up the Chairmanship of the South African bloc.
President Chakwera pledged Malawi’s support for Magosi and added that there were plans to set up diplomatic missions in their respective countries to “serve our people well”.
Over the years, the two SADC members have benefited from a cooperation agenda that has facilitated collaboration in various areas such as education and training in defence and security. – CGTN
