The President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi Keabetswe Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has signed several Southern African Development Community (SADC) legal instruments which include the Protocol on Industry, agreements amending the Protocol on Extradition, and the Protocol on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
The Protocol on Industry seeks to promote development of a diversified, innovative and globally competitive regional and national industrial bases which will enable the Region to achieve sustainable and inclusive industrial development. Botswana becomes the 12th SADC Member State to have appended its signature on the Protocol.
The Protocol on Extradition, which Botswana is a state party to, entered into force on 1st September 2006.The Protocol is key considering the spread of transnational criminal activities such as terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime.
The Protocol on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters provides legal basis for SADC Member States to provide each other with the widest possible measures of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The list of legal instruments that the Government of Botswana signed are:
- Protocol on Industry.
- Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Extradition 2017.
- Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Extradition 201.
- Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters 2017.
- Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters 2019.
The SADC Secretariat and the SADC Region welcomed the decision by the Botswana Government to sign these legal instruments.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of the Republic of Botswana, Honourable Mmusi Kgafela, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Honourable Dumezweni Meshack Mthimkhulu, Legal Counsel at SADC Secretariat, Ms. Nthabiseng Liphaphang representing the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, among officials from the Government of Botswana and SADC Secretariat.
The ceremony took place at the Office of the President in Gaborone, Botswana, on 7th May 2021.
