Sundaymail Editor
Sunday Mail Reporter
The third session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission kicks off in Victoria Falls tomorrow, with discussions on economic co-operation, a review of bilateral ties and regional wildlife conservation topping the agenda.
The five-day summit begins with a meeting of senior officials led by Foreign Affairs and International Trade secretary Ambassador James Manzou and his Batswana counterpart Dr Gladys Mokhawa.
A Ministerial meeting will follow on Thursday before President Mnangagwa arrives in the resort city the same day to welcome his counterpart President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
According to the draft agenda, the Political and Diplomatic Committee will review the bilateral relations between the two countries, conduct diplomatic consultations, and review the implementation of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
On trade, the Economic Committee will deliberate on the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), draft memorandum of agreement to operationalise the BWP 1 billion line of credit facility and draft double taxation avoidance agreement and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains between Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The same committee will also assess the draft memorandum of understanding on the promotion of cooperative development and micro, small, and medium enterprises development among other agreements.
Deliberations will also touch on tourism wildlife conservation and environmental issues.
These include: “Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of tourism, cooperation under Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA), draft Memorandum of Understanding on Forestry, cooperation in wildlife management and anti-poaching and Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE).”
Zimbabwe’s readiness to support the Botswana Rhino re-stocking programme and cooperation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) will also come under discussion.
Energy, Transport and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Water, Defence and Security and social issues will also be discussed.
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