The German Ambassador to Botswana and accredited to Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Ralf Breth met the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax on 15th April 2019, in Gaborone, Botswana.
The meeting aimed to discuss the preparations for the SADC-German cooperation negotiations scheduled for November 2019, and was a follow-up to the consultations regarding development cooperation between SADC and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was held in Gaborone on 19th and 20th February 2019.
Ambassador Breth thanked Her Excellency Dr. Tax for the opportunity to meet with her. He pledged the Germany Government's continued support and engagement to ensure the successful November 2019 development cooperation negotiations. He also expressed condolences following the devastating effects of cyclone Idani on Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. He informed the SADC Secretariat that his government has assisted the victims of the cyclone Idai through United Nations Agencies.
The SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax welcomed Ambassador Breth and his delegation to the SADC Secretariat. She informed the Ambassador that, His Excellency Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and Chairperson of SADC launched the SADC Regional Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance in response to tropical cyclone Idai, on 11th April 2019, in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia.
Dr. Tax further expressed her appreciation to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the continued support towards implementation of the SADC regional integration and development agenda. She called upon both parties as they prepare for the up-coming SADC-German bilateral negotiations to take into account the emerging challenges.
The SADC-German Cooperation programmes, currently under implementation include, Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE II); Project Preparation and Development Facility (PPDF); Promotion of Quality Infrastructure in the SADC region, Quality, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM); Peace, Security and Good Governance. (PSGG); Transboundary Water Management; Transboundary Use and Protection of Natural Resources and Resilience to Climate Change; and Strengthening National-Regional Linkages (SNRL).
The two parties agreed to continue to work together and engage as they prepare for the SADC-German cooperation negotiations scheduled for November 2019.
