MBABANE – Eswatini and Lesotho are exploring ways to revive education cooperation and expand trade following talks between their foreign ministers in Mbabane on Wednesday.
Eswatini’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Senator Pholile Shakantu, hosted Lesotho’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Limpho Justice Tau, for a courtesy visit.
According to the Eswatini government, the discussions focused on strengthening longstanding relations between the two kingdoms, with education, trade and agriculture identified as priorities. No new agreements or implementation timelines were announced.
Education cooperation back on the agenda
The ministers discussed reviving education links, although the government statement did not specify whether this would involve scholarships, student exchanges, university partnerships or other programmes.
The two countries share a history of cooperation in higher education. From 1964, they were partners with Botswana in a regional institution that later became known as the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.
That arrangement began to break up after Lesotho withdrew in 1975, paving the way for separate national universities.
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Wednesday’s discussions signalled an interest in rebuilding educational cooperation, but the scope of any future programme remains unclear.
Seed summit brings agriculture into focus
The visit coincided with the inaugural African Union Seed Investment Summit, held in Ezulwini from 5 to 7 October under the theme “Resilient Seed Systems for a Food Secure Africa”.
The summit brought together government leaders, agriculture ministers, farmers, researchers, seed companies and development partners to discuss investment in the continent’s seed systems.
According to the government statement, the two countries’ agricultural discussions would continue at the summit, alongside their agriculture counterparts.
Tau used the gathering to urge delegates to ensure that proposed investment reaches smallholder farmers and countries facing the greatest pressures on food production.
Organisers have proposed mobilising at least US$1 billion for seed systems between 2026 and 2035. Tau cautioned that the initiative’s success should be judged by who benefits, rather than the size of the funding announcement.
“Financial commitments must follow political commitments,” he told delegates, according to the Times of Eswatini.
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“The true measure of this commitment will not be the headline figure; it will be whether resources reach the countries, institutions, and farmers where the need is greatest.”
He described seed as “the first link in the food value chain”, arguing that weaknesses at that stage undermine wider ambitions for nutrition, rural development and economic resilience.
Building on existing regional links
Eswatini and Lesotho already cooperate through the Southern African Customs Union, alongside Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Both also belong to the Southern African Development Community.
Their economies are closely linked to South Africa, and customs union revenue is an important source of government income in both countries.
Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, while Eswatini borders South Africa and Mozambique. Stronger bilateral trade could broaden commercial links between the two kingdoms, although the statement did not identify specific sectors, projects or trade targets.
The talks reaffirmed their interest in closer cooperation. The next step will be to turn those discussions into defined programmes, particularly in education and agriculture, with clear responsibilities and timelines.
