BOTSWANA
Botswana has given Malawi a soft loan of US$ 10 million to be used in its agriculture and health sectors – a development that heralded a long term commitment to sharing resources and expertise in various areas. The loan will also assist alleviate the fuel situation in Malawi.
The two governments, which have a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation, also agreed to fast track private sector engagement and establish an Investment and Promotion protection agreement to expedite provision of the credit lines.
MALAWI
Malawi and Mozambique are expected to sign an energy deal when President Armando E. Guebuza visits his counterpart President Joyce Banda next month.The electricity tapping deal entails that both countries can either export or import to each other depending on excess power.
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe has dismissed the partial lifting of the European Union sanctions as a “non-event.” The Government called for the total and unequivocal lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Zimbabweans have approved a new constitution bringing the country a step closer to holding full elections in the next few months. Nearly 95 percent of voters in a referendum approved the new charter.
And South African President, Jacob Zuma has urged SADC to be robust and deploy elections observers in Zimbabwe well before the general elections and remain in the country for some time after the polls in order to make follow-ups and deal with issues as they arise.
