Khama proposes Moitoi for AU Commission

President Ian Khama (http://www.gov.bw/en/ministries--authorities/ministries/state-president/office-of-the-president/about-the-office-of-the-president/) who is the Chairman of the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) (http://www.sadc.int/) has nominated the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pelonomi Venson Moitoi, (http://www.mofaic.gov.bw/) to contest the chairmanship of the African Union Commission in July this year (http://www.au.int/en/commission).

Ministers of foreign affairs of the SADC countries met in Gaborone last month and endorsed Venson-Moitoi as the southern African region candidate for the position of the Chairperson of the AU Commission.

Three candidates from South Africa(http://www.dirco.gov.za/department/profile_mashabane.html) , Malawi(http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.mw/index.php/about-us)and Botswana were initially in the race but after deliberations, Venson Moitoi received the nod.Venson Moitoi was born in 1951 and attained a master of science degree in administration from the University of Central Michigan in the United States in 1987 (https://www.cmich.edu/Pages/default.aspx).

Although Venson Moitoi is still new to international relations however, her experience in politics sets her at an advantage. She has been the deputy secretary general of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)( www.bdp.org.bw/Documents/CONSTITUTION%20OF%20BDP.pdf) from 1999 to 2003 and was elected to Parliament in 2004. Before her current foreign affairs assignment, her other ministerial posts included communications, science and technology; works and transport, trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism; and Education.

In an interview, Venson Moitoi confirmed that President Khama nominated her and SADC endorsed her. She said she would answer other questions after briefing her constituents.Venson Moitoi might battle it out with Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra (http://www.un.org/africarenewal/africaga2015/algeria-he-mr-ramtane-lamamra-minister-foreign-affairs), who has previously served two terms as a plain AU commissioner. His eligibility is however reported to be in question but that will be determined in due course. Khama and SADC are said to be banking on Botswana’s good regional and international reputation. Despite this, Botswana’s attitude towards the African Union has been wanting as the president hardly attends its meetings. Some African leaders might consider Botswana to have been undermining them by its non-attendance and waking up the next day to seek their support.