The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
Floyd Nkomo
22 May 2008
THE government of Botswana's new president Ian Seretse Khama has quashed rumours that it is bankrolling Zimbabwean opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai's diplomatic onslaught on President Robert Mugabe's government ahead of the crucial presidential run-off election on June 27 as indicated in various sections of the independent media.
This comes at a time when relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia have deteriorated over Harare's claims that its northern neighbour, which chairs the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), is siding with the opposition on the political impasse.
The Batswana government, however, said they had granted Movement for Democratic Change leader, Morgan Tsvangirai temporary refuge in the country soon after announcing that he beat President Mugabe in the March 29 poll, saying he feared for his life.
Tsvangirai was accommodated at a government guest house in the Botswana capital, Gaborone.
The MDC leader also travelled with Khama to an extra-ordinary Sadc summit in Lusaka called by President Levy Mwanawasa to discuss the Zimbabwean crisis and has often shown solidarity with the opposition group.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia have deteriorated as President Mwanawasa, who currently chairs the Sadc has sided with the opposition on Zimbabwe's political impasse; and has been blamed by Harare for remaining mum on the Zimbabwe sanctions issue, withholding relief maize for political reasons, deporting Zimbabwean traders, and toeing the British line on Zimbabwe.
Sadc last year tasked President Mwanawasa to ask the United States and Britain to scrap the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, but he still has not done anything about it.
At the weekend, the South African media claimed that Tsvangirai, who postponed his return home to launch his campaign for the run-off, was using President Khama's private jet for his diplomatic push and was receiving monies to continue with campaigns outside the country.
Dr Jeff Ramsay, the Botswana government's coordinator for communication and information services, dismissed the reports as false, saying the country had not assisted Tsvangirai beyond offering him temporary refugee.
"Tsvangirai has not been given any plane by the president," Dr Ramsay told Botswana's Mmegi newspaper. "There is no truth to that story."
Botswana has accorded Zimbabweans crossing into the country refugee status.
South Africa has refused to grant Zimbabweans refugee status or create refugee camps saying they do not deserve that status as they are not fleeing political persecution.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Botswana, under the new president, are likely to be strained if the opposition leader remains in that country.
The new president who faces a crucial election next year is reported to be using the Zimbabwean situation as a political tool in order to make his mark in the country and on the continent.
The former Commander of the Botswana Defence Force and vice-president went into office when power was handed over to him by then President Festus Mogae.
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