19 August 2008
Gaborone — Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwean opposition Party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), is in Botswana to have talks with President Ian Khama.
This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "I know that there has been a request from MDC that Tsvangirai will like to visit the country," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Clifford Maribe.
Tsvangirai left South Africa where Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders met principally to discuss the Zimbabwean political impasse albeit with little success. It was hoped that regional leaders would add their weight to the mediation efforts of South African President Thabo Mbeki to hammer out a political deal between Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai's MDC. However, there was no breakthrough at the summit.
Botswana boycotted the summit saying that it does not recognise the results of June 27 presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe won by Mugabe after a boycott by Tsvangirai. Botswana contends that the election violated the core principles of SADC, African Union and the United Nations, and hence, Mugabe must not be recognised as president of Zimbabwe.
"The authorities in Harare, under the prevailing circumstances, should not be represented at the political level at SADC summit as that would be equal to giving them legitimacy," the Botswana Minister of Foreign Affairs, Phandu Skelemani has said.
Straight from the South Africa, Tsvangirai chose Botswana as his first stop. This is likely to set tongues wagging at ZANU-PF.
Other than being critical of Mugabe's alleged undemocratic shenanigans, Botswana is considered to be very accommodative of Tsvangirai. At the heart of the electoral violence, the MDC leader sought and was given refuge in Botswana saying that his life was in danger.
Maribe said Tsvangirai's current visit to the country is part of a regional tour that he has embarked upon. He suspects the MDC leader is going around the region briefing regional leaders on the progress made on the power-sharing deal mediations. Meanwhile, the South African news network SABC News reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has denied reports that Botswana is considering plans to grant Tsvangirai a diplomatic passport.
There have been reports that the Zimbabwean government is refusing to renew his passport. Last week, his emergency travelling documents were confiscated at Harare airport. They were later handed back to him. However, foreign affairs spokesperson, Cliff Maribe, says Botswana cannot give a foreign national such a passport.
(with extra by SABCNEWS)
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Its best to ignore you baasi. You are so monotonous,
As are you , you hate riddled nyoka , ready to strike against common sense ! See you in hell Akupfunde !
Yes, if I was a white rhodiee l would be an activist for the RhodesiaFront, In apartheid RSA l would certainly be in the NationalParty, and in the UK l would be at the front for the BNP or the NF, in Zimbabwe l am for my people...you support the ideals of white supremacy and settlerism. I understand. Its unfortunate the situation in Gt Zim have deteriotated to the point where the economy is full blast in the reverse ... fundamental mistakes and errors have been done by both the government and the IMF/world bank advisers during the Chidzero time. And these were compounded by our tendency not to be accountable for actions eg a friend of mine flew a Airforce helicopter from CharlesPrince Airport in Harare to Gweru to attend a private party. It is a national disease which crops up now and then even in the MDC. We are all rotten apples. Even those outside the current government, are rotten and corrupt. I can go and on. Each individual amongst those in the diaspora knows his criminality and corrupt activities. I categorically refuse to accept that all MADORODORO and MATOSI in the chicken koop are from the COCK only. Lets admit that we have all contributed to the mess. Maybe we are experimenting and learning to run a country. The Zimbabwe of the 1980s was not of our creation and initiative. It was a product of Ian Smith's Rhodesia and the white settlers. It was like we were taking water from a well that was dug by the rhodies and now by the 1990s it had gone down and eventually disappeared altogether. None of us were able to realise that the water was going down, like some lone tadpoles in a drying pool. We are not capable of generating more water (wealth) for the pool, hence we are going to die. Tsvangi has decided to bring back the rhodies who are capable of creating more water. To hell with independence, so the MDC says. I try to understand.
Tsvangirai is being denied a new passport on lunatic Mugabe's instructions!
The hero turned murderer is now being described by citizens he displaced as "the cancer" devouring the socioeconomic fabrics of the nation. Murderer Mugabe will soon lose his right to a Zimbabwean passport and he will rot in jail while awaiting criminal proceedings for crimes against his citizens.
Botswana, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya are working closely with branches of the Zimbabwe Exile Forum to that effect.
The days of dictators and bloodsuckers are counted in Africa!
Organised groups of activists of civil society across Africa are deeply appreciative of the new twist the valient leaders of these countries are giving to the struggle to establish freedom, justice and a due process of law on the continent.