In a significant diplomatic engagement held in Pretoria yesterday, President Advocate Duma Boko of Botswana and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa identified the energy sector as a cornerstone of future collaboration between the two neighbouring countries.
During a joint briefing, President Boko emphasized the importance of the new energy agreement, describing it as a shift from costly emergency power purchases to a more stable and economically sustainable arrangement. “We also have an agreement that we have just concluded in relation to addressing power shortage in Botswana, which departs from what we had before of buying at emergency prices, to a more settled scale, which is a better arrangement,” President Boko stated.
The new agreement is expected to ease Botswana’s power supply challenges by enabling predictable, long-term electricity imports from South Africa, a move that aligns with both nations’ goals of enhancing regional energy security and economic resilience.
Beyond energy, the two leaders also discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in manufacturing and improving access to regional and international markets. The aim is to bolster industrial development in both countries, create jobs, and promote value-added exports that can compete globally.
President Ramaphosa welcomed the renewed partnership and praised the shared vision between the two administrations. He noted that enhanced cooperation in energy and manufacturing will serve as a catalyst for greater integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and contribute to regional development goals.
This meeting marks the first formal bilateral engagement between the two heads of state since President Boko assumed office. Analysts view the energy deal and broader economic discussions as indicative of a strategic pivot towards deepening economic ties and ensuring mutual benefits through structured cooperation.
As Botswana continues to diversify its economy and address infrastructure gaps, partnerships like this one with South Africa are seen as critical levers for progress. Similarly, South Africa stands to gain from increased demand for its electricity exports and broader industrial cooperation in the region.
The Pretoria meeting concluded with a commitment to fast-track implementation of the agreements and to establish technical teams that will oversee project rollouts, ensuring that both nations benefit from the shared vision of economic transformation.
