The Director of Public Relations, Research and Information in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Clifford Maribe says the P3 million that Botswana is donating to Zimbabwe is solely for the people of Zimbabwe and not to be enjoyed by the Robert Mugabe administration.
Maribe said they are donating the P3 million, through the World Health Organisation (WHO), UN Children's Fund and the World Food Programme (WFP) because Botswana has always encouraged donors to assist the people of Zimbabwe.
"We have no quarrel with the people of Zimbabwe. They are in this because their leadership has failed to form a government. The money is intended for the people, and not the authorities," he responded, when asked if the donation is not contradictory to Botswana's recent call that the international community should isolate Mugabe.
In a statement yesterday, the foreign affairs office announced that they are giving P3million to the people of Zimbabwe, in view of the prevailing humanitarian crisis there.
"Botswana is concerned at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. Reports of the recent cholera outbreak, which has already claimed the lives of several hundred people, and food shortages, should trouble the conscience of humanity," the statement reads in part.
"We call upon the parties to honour the global political agreement signed on 15 September 2008 to seriously consider the interests of the people of Zimbabwe by quickly agreeing on the establishment of an all inclusive government so that they can focus on the urgent needs of the people," says the statement.
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"Poor little Botswana" that the Mugabe apologists on this site like to deride is now provide direct humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe (as well as putting up with thousands of refugees from Zimababwe). Khama, who is a true friend of Zimbabwe, knows that this nightmare will one day be over and Mugabe will be no more than a bad memory.
Meantime Cde Ndebvu, Icho et al, what has happened to your 'MDC militia camps'? Another delusion from the bunker in Harare!
The MDC militia training camps in Botswana were all just a ploy from Mugabe at the SADC to take the focus of himself. Anyone who couldnt see through it then is a fool.