The President of the Republic of Malawi, H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda yesterday opened the Poverty Eradication Workshop at Chanoga, Botswana.

In her remarks, she expressed her gratitude to H.E. the President Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama for inviting her to join him at the workshop as poverty eradication is now a priority for her administration as well.

She went on to note that she has been following with interest Botswana’s poverty eradication campaign since its launch by President Khama in 2009.

She further observed that the invitation was a welcome manifestation of the fact that people in the region and developing world have much to learn from each other. In this context she noted her strong belief that firsthand experience in addressing poverty qualified many in the south as the true experts in the field, adding that shared experience as well trade was in the spirit of South-South cooperation for development.

During her remarks the Malawi President further praised Botswana for having elevated itself as an international best practice model in the management of natural resources for development, observing that it could achieve similar standing through its poverty eradication efforts.

President Banda went on to commend Botswana’s poverty eradication programme for its emphasis on agriculture and rural development.