The government of Botswana has pledged a piece of land to host the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Logistics Depot. The plans to build the Depot are in place and it is expected that the Depot will be completed by Financial Year 2025/2026.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement between the government of Botswana and the SADC Secretariat, SADC Executive Secretary- His Excellency Elias Mpedi Magosi, commended Botswana for the good gesture.
“This is a clear testimony of your commitment and dedication towards ensuring the establishment of the logistic depot is finalized and operationalized. Honourable Minister, I wish to extend SADC’s gratitude to the Government of Botswana for allocating the regional block 19-hectares of land for the construction of the Regional Logistics Depot (RLD), and the granting of a land lease signed in 2012. This gesture by the Government is confirmation of the commitment by the Republic of Botswana to not only being a member of the regional block, but more importantly to contribute to and facilitate peace and security in the region. Your Government’s gifting of the RLD and ongoing involvement in the fight against terrorism and extremism in Mozambique are a clear testimony to this fact.” Magosi commended.
Once completed, the depot is expected to enable storage of materials, equipment and end-user stocks for use by the SADC Standby Forces when undertaking mandated peace support and humanitarian missions. The depot is also set to provide a central platform for the provision of logistics support to SADC Standby Forces, and as a result, will eliminate delays in providing logistics support as well as cut long procurement lead times. Consequently, SADC Standby Forces will be enhanced to effectively and successfully conduct peace support and humanitarian missions. By extension, the success of Standby Forces can only lead overall to enhanced peace and stability in the region.
The Depot will comprise a variety of buildings including office space, residential buildings, warehouses, workshops and supporting infrastructure such as roads, sewer, water, electricity and security systems. The architectural and engineering designs of the depot are reportedly underway and will be completed in Financial Year (FY) 2021/2022.
“It is envisaged that construction of the Depot will be in two phases; the first phase being the Initial Operational Capability to completed by FY 2023/2024, and the second being Full Operational Capability scheduled for completion by FY 2025/2026. Funding for the construction of the entire Depot, approximated at USD 15 million, is sourced from the SADC Member States. To attain Full Operational Capability of the depot, an extra USD 30 million is required from Member States in 2022. The total cost for the entire construction of the depot is approximated at USD 45 million.” outlined Magosi.
