President Ian Khama consulted his South African counterpart Kgalema Motlanthe in Pretoria on Sunday, specifically on the Zimbabwean crisis.
Botswana has previously said fresh elections, under the supervision of external bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), is the only solution to the Zimbabwean impasse. Foreign Minister, Phandu Skelemani, who accompanied the president confirmed that Khama consulted Motlanthe in his capacity as the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Botswana sought to be updated by the chairman on the progress made so far since the signing of the power-sharing agreement between the parties in Zimbabwe, said Skelemani yesterday from London where he is on an official visit with the president.
President Khama told the South African media briefing after the Sunday meeting with Motlanthe that "our biggest concern is that the focus is moving away from the plight of the Zimbabwean people, who are suffering through starvation and diseases." Cholera epidemic is sweeping the besieged country, having claimed at least 300 people and affecting some 6,000 lives.
Skelemani said President Motlanthe briefed them on the power-sharing meeting planned for today in South Africa. Motlanthe told the South African public broadcaster that: "We agreed that, with regards to Zimbabwe, the next step really is to ensure that we unblock the impasse for them to take Amendment 19 through the senate and the assembly, so that Tsvangirai could be sworn in as prime minister and Mutambara as the vice prime minister and Mugabe as the president, so that once the three of them have been sworn in they can then form an inclusive government."
Analysts have interpreted Motlanthe's insistence on the re-swearing of Mugabe on the same day as that of prime minister designate Tsvangirai, as non-recognition of Mugabe as president. This is a marked foreign policy departure from that of the previous administration of Thabo Mbeki, they noted. After the discredited June 27 Zimbabwean presidential poll, Botswana made it clear it did not recognise the illegitimate Mugabe regime. Skelemani yesterday maintained that "as we talk there is no government in Zimbabwe. There is only an agreement to form government".
Regional analysts who praise Botswana's unambiguous stand on Zimbabwe accuse regional governments of always blaming ZANU-PF and MDC in the same breath. However, when quizzed on this approach, Skelemani noted that "in Parliament we made it clear that the major problem is that Mugabe, as the ZANU-PF leader, behaves as if he has the right to parcel out positions to other parties".
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Khama, do your election first before you venture out for others, you are dirty and filthy smelling. Zim is not Bots, mind your own business. Why don"t you withdraw your ambassador if there is no govt in Zim, why are your soldiers being trained by an illegitimate govt and why should you recognise the training hosted by illegitimate institutions,you are a mad boy, idiot
This zim bigot who thinks Botswana is smelling is one of those who cant even afford a meal per day late alone take a bath. Your comments do not deserve a reply. You are a lost case. I'm Zimbabwean but I'm appalled at what that despot has done to our dear country. R u going to blame Bush and Blair? The best thing is to shoot You and Your cruel president dead!
Thanks. We really have excellent leadership coming out of Botswana. Elder wants to emphasize that he is not in any way related to the Elders club set up by his excellency, Nelson Mandela. These are real Elders much much experienced and highly respected by Elder himself. Having said that, seeing there is no government in Zimbabwe but a pack of opportunitsts who thrive on chaos, Elder wants to suggest that UN moves in to restore order, save lives and prepare the nation for elections according to international norms.
Elder, great suggestion. lets hope it happens.
In addition, the UN must ensure that Mugabe be kept under tight control so that he does not coordinate another violent attack against Zimbos!
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