Following heavy criticism from the public on President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s continued international trips, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has come out to defend his boss saying the country is benefiting a lot from the trips.
When launching the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) candidate for Bosele ward, Isaac Boyboy Moseki last Sunday, Tsogwane said that Botswana, through Masisi’s extensive international travels, continues to take full advantage of the good opportunities that exist in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as well as finding export market prospects for Botswana companies.
He said the BDP has achieved a lot in delivering its election manifesto promises, among them being, ‘Multilateralism, Economic Diplomacy and Partnerships, noting that Botswana needs to always maintain its economic diplomacy and always develop economic and trade exchanges with all friendly countries based on equality and mutual benefit.
“These international travels by Masisi are extremely important as you would all recall the drought we suffered in the last 10 years. Botswana was relatively unknown, and Masisi is hard at work to change the status quo,” added Tsogwane.
By August last year government had forked out more than P18 million sponsorship of Masisi’s trips since becoming president.
Speaking in Parliament last year, the Assistant Minister of State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said that the purpose and benefits of all the president’s international trips was to position Botswana’s foreign policy and advance the country’s national interest.