by Staff Reporter
Cabinet yesterday considered and approved the Bilateral Air Search and Rescue Agreement between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Botswana as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing, yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said that Cabinet was informed that in terms of the agreement, the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Botswana will cooperate in the exchange of search and rescue information concerning potential distress situations, and supporting each other by pooling search and rescue facilities for operations within their respective search and rescue region.
“The parties will make and respond to requests for operational assistance between the designated rescue coordination centre or rescue sub-centre of the parties as capabilities allow. The competent authorities in the respective countries will also exchange information on the available search and rescue resources to ensure mutual knowledge of each other’s search and rescue capabilities subject to the parties’ domestic laws,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The Minister also said the agreement would ensure proper coordination of aeronautical search and rescue services within the territories of the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet adopted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries on Aircraft Accidents and Serious Incidents, which was presented by Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi. According to Minister Mutsvangwa, the MoU is in line with the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which both Botswana and Zimbabwe are signatories to.
“The MoU fosters cooperation between the two States in investigating aircraft accidents and other serious incidents in order to prevent future recurrence or occurrence of same. As such, the Memorandum promotes cooperation between Zimbabwe and Botswana on the establishment and implementation of investigation mechanism, including investigation capacity building arrangements with each other,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
According to the MoU, each party shall establish a working group of specialists to plan and implement technical exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the field of aircraft accidents and incidents investigation.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Botswana improved in the Second Republic led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose engagement and re-engagement drive continues to impact positively on economic transformation of the country.
