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Plans for direct flight between Zambia, Botswana under way - Oliphant

Plans for direct flight between Zambia, Botswana under way - Oliphant
By Chibaula Silwamba
Monday October 01, 2007 [04:00]

BOTSWANA High Commissioner Tuelonyana Ditlhabi Oliphant has said plans are underway to introduce direct flights between that country and Zambia. And High Commissioner Oliphant assured that Botswana is ready to share information, knowledge and its experiences with Zambia on how to turn mineral resources into finished products.

In an interview ahead of the Botswana National Day, which falls today, High Commissioner Oliphant said Botswana and Zambia signed the bilateral air service agreement with the intention to have direct air flights between selected tourist destinations in the two countries.

"We signed our bilateral agreement last October and the intention is to have direct air flights between the two countries. According to the agreement, there will be three flights to three destinations in both countries; Gaberone, Francis Town and Maun in Botswana and on the Zambian side we will have Lusaka, Livingstone and Mfuwe," she said. "That is the intention but there is a bit of a delay because Air Botswana is still going through a process of privatisation but I know that the Zambian side is quite ready."

However, High Commissioner Oliphant said the Botswana government would still have substantial shares in the airline after privatisation.

"We are hoping that as soon as the privatisation issue in Botswana is sorted out, we can implement the agreement. We are convinced that the destinations that we have chosen are highly profitable," she said.
High Commissioner Oliphant also said the construction of the Kazungula Bridge covering Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe would promote trade among the three countries.
"We are happy about the prospects that the bridge will bring in communication and trade between our peoples," she said.

She also said Botswana and Zambia had established a committee of technical experts on tourism and wildlife to promote joint marketing of tourism destinations, tours, capacity building and promotion of cultural and heritage tourism development.

High Commissioner Oliphant said the diplomatic mission was keen to improve the interaction among business people of the two countries.

"Today Friday, I met an official from the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) who said they are trying to bring a trade mission to Zambia so that the business people between Botswana and Zambia can interact on trade and investment.

He is talking about 15 business people who are interested in exploring the Zambian market to see what they can invest in or where they can do trade together," she said. "Zambia is a fertile country, there are so many things that grow here especially vegetables and fruits, which Botswana imports from South Africa and we can easily import these things from Zambia. In Botswana there are also things that are manufactured which the Zambians can import."

High Commissioner Oliphant also observed that cattle were occasionally attacked by foot and mouth disease in Botswana and Zambia.
She said to combat the disease, her government established the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI).

She said the Botswana government had also formed Livestock Advisory Centres that provided vaccines, antibiotics and equipment at subsidized prices throughout the country.

"As a result Botswana has managed to turn about 85 per cent of its zones into foot and mouth disease free areas, which enables us to export beef to the European Union and South African markets, as you know the EU has rigid standards," she said.

High Commissioner Oliphant also said Botswana had established the Diamond Trading Company, which would be the biggest company in the region where sorting and sighting of diamond would be done.

"So far Botswana has issued 16 licences for companies that are going to be cutting and polishing diamond and this is because the country has seen the need to maximize the long term benefits from diamonds so that they benefit the locals and future generation," she said. "Botswana can do its best to be an example and share information, knowledge and its experiences with its neighbouring countries like Zambia."

She said there was need for partnership between locals and foreign companies that have the capital, equipment and technology to exploit the resources.

"But it doesn't mean you abdicate your responsibility of being accountable for your natural resources," said High Commissioner Oliphant.

Labels: AIR BOTSWANA, BOTSWANA, ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS

posted by MrK @ 9:16 AM