SADC chair pleased with Botswana transition

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the chairperson of SADC, says he is pleased with the formidable manner in which Botswana handles political transition.

President Ian Khama steps down in 10 days, vacating his post for Deputy President Mokgweetsi Masisi who will be inaugurated next month.

Ramaphosa was in the country’s capital, Gaborone, as part of his three nation tour which includes Angola and Namibia.

He says, all 16 SADC countries should learn from Botswana in order to avoid unnecessary divisions within the ruling parties and subsequently throughout the countries.

“That is the epicentre of SADC – representing 16 nations in southern Africa. I am overjoyed – I am really pleased. Much as this is courtesy visit, you just don’t know how much it means to me – I am in heaven. This structure is an important structure because it exists to represent the interests of millions of people in southern Africa.”