Bame Piet
10 April 2008
Gaborone — Leader of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai is in Gaborone to ask for the intervention of Botswana and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to end the elections' crisis in that country. He arrived yesterday morning and it is not known when he will leave.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani confirmed that Tsvangirai's visit prompted President Ian Khama to contact SADC Chairman, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, about what to do.
"This is a matter that cannot be ignored, otherwise you would be saying 'let people die' and Mwanawasa promised to contact other SADC Heads of State," he said.
Skelemani revealed that even the government of Botswana is concerned at the delay in the announcement of the results of the elections held on March 29.
"The delay is bad for all of us - neighbouring countries and Zimbabweans," he said with disappointment drawn on his face. He said that should the delay continue, Botswana would continue engaging SADC Heads of State and the international community to pressurise the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the results.
It has since emerged that the SADC heads of state and government summit is scheduled for Saturday in Lusaka, Zambia.
Skelemani prayed that Zimbabweans should not go the Kenya way in which disputed results claimed over a thousand lives when ethnic groups clashed. He said that Botswana is already overwhelmed with refugees at Dukwi.
However, he said, "it would be inhuman to chase people away if they come to us looking for refuge. It is not in accordance with our Setswana notion of Botho," he said. The SADC secretariat in Gaborone confirmed that Mwanawasa was consulting with his colleagues about holding an extraordinary summit on the situation in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai had already met with leader of African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma on Monday and he publicly condemned the delay in releasing the results. Reports indicate that Tsvangirai intends to visit several SADC countries.
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