Presidents of Botswana, Seychelles meet, discuss education agreement
Diplomacy |Author: Betymie Bonnelame | May 8, 2018, Tuesday @ 18:05| 8648 views
Masisi met with the President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, for a presidential tête-à-tête at State House on Tuesday morning. (State House)
(Seychelles News Agency) - The President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, made a one-day official visit to Seychelles on Tuesday as part of his tour of the member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Masisi met with the President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, for a presidential tête-à-tête during which they discussed the various bilateral engagements of the two countries, particularly on the proactive relationship that Seychelles and Botswana share in the field of education.
Seychelles and Botswana signed an agreement in September 2015 under which secondary school teachers from the island nation in the western Indian Ocean can pursue a Bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Botswana. In exchange, teachers from Botswana can fill the shortage of teachers in various schools in Seychelles.
Before the morning meeting, the two sides and their respective delegations had breakfast to further enhance relations between Seychelles and Botswana in the context of the proposed General Cooperation Agreement.
After his meeting at State House, the President of Botswana visited the Botanical Gardens where he took part in a tree planting activity. President Masisi and his delegation left Seychelles on Tuesday afternoon.
President Masisi, 55, is Botswana’s fifth president and was sworn into office in April taking over from President Ian Khama, who stepped down after completing the constitutional maximum of 10 years in office.
Elections in Botswana are scheduled to take place in October 2019.
Both Seychelles and Botswana are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) -- a regional economic community comprising 15 member states. SADC was set up in 1992 and is committed to regional integration and poverty eradication within Southern Africa through economic development and ensuring peace and security.