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Gaborone — President Ian Khama leaves for Washington today to attend the Conservation International board of directors meeting. While in the US, Khama will meet with President Barack Obama on Thursday.
Minster for Foreign Affairs, Phandu Skelemani, could not disclose what is on the agenda for the meeting of the two leaders. "The meeting has no agenda as such. The two presidents will meet and we will put forward the challenges facing our country that we think Americans could help us address," Skelemani said.
He did not rule out the possibility of Khama and Obama discussing the political crisis in Zimbabwe. He said the matter might be mentioned in passing, as the whole region is waiting for the report of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika that is currently assessing the situation in Zimbabwe. He said that all they can do is to share their experiences on Zimbabwe with Americans and solicit advice.
Skelemani said it would be unprofessional for Botswana to rush to take the Zimbabwe matter to the US when the SADC Treaty has laid down what procedures should be followed. Mozambique will host a regional summit on Zimbabwe on Thursday in the hope of breaking a deadlock that threatens the fragile unity government. Mozambique currently heads SADC's security organ, which sent a delegation to Harare last week to mediate between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader who joined the government in February.
The government of Botswana issued a statement last week condemning what is happening in Zimbabwe's unity government. Mugabe and Tsvangirai have disagreed on the allocation of positions in government. This has led to Tsvangirai pulling out MDC from the unity government, further dampening hopes that the country will be back on its feet in the near future.
Meanwhile, Khama will miss a SADC meeting to discuss Zimbabwe for the second year running. At almost the same time last year, did not attend an extraordinary SADC Summit on Zimbabwe held in South Africa.
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Clearly, Mr Khama need not attend these so-called summits as Mugabe already has enough other African leaders to hold his hands.
But Mugabe fairly or not, fought for land and empowerment of his people, what has Khama done except help the Western Multinational Mining companies bleed Botswana of all its diamonds and minerals ,why would they not pretend he is a hero in Washington and Brussels when he is protecting their interests .Thats why he takes Tsvangirai's side because he identifies with another puppet. No worries Tswanas ,Zimbabweans had that same peace and thought they had all they wanted till the settlers designed bottle-neck economy started to bite. Somebody should spell it to sleepy Africans that democracy is a myth. What good is changing leader after leader without control of your national resources, budget after budget from donor funds instead of tax based ,its just a vicious cycle of poverty and indiginity. What Africans need to do is fight for asset control of their resources (land ,mines etc ) so for aid to be direct ,and so that financial istitutions like world bank can be confronted with reasonable business plans and developmental programs not a begging bowl like what that unintelligent fool Tswangirai did. What Khama should be doing is getting locals invovled in mining and diversifying into involving them in agriculture so to avoid one dimesion economy like Zambia. that way when the investors leave you have no worries .Instead Khama preserves the dominance of the likes of Rio Tinto, Anglo American, BHP etc. and a daydreaming african is smilling from ear to ear that he is a beacon of democracy, he is gone to Washington to be told "well done for keeping Tswanas down and quiet another cheque to your Zurich account is in the post."
Smith, I do agree with you that Mugabe fought for the land and real independence for all Zimbabweans. But even I, a patriotic Zimbabwean, have to admit that full realization of a free and fair Zimbabwean society and equally distributed land to the masses has not been realized. Mugabe gets so upset if there is a slight bit of opposition within the country. Why is Mugabe chasing around the MDC members of Tsvangirai? It makes no sense at all.
Im not fan of President Ian Khama, but Botswana speaks louder than words. Botswana is run properly, diamond money has been used to the benefits of Batswana. It is a peaceful country. Even, Zimbabweans hold decent positions in Botswana, including working for the govt. Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans need to open up a bit! We are slowly devaluing ourselves.
Now you are starting to make sense Phiri.
My dearest Smith,
I started reading your comment and when I read about Tzwangirai and you acusing him of holding a begging bowl in front of foreign governments,I got upset because,my dear,
THAT IS WHAT ALL GOVERNORS OR MAJORS OF BIG USA CITIES ARE
DOING!
As I read every week the business press,I know that recently the Governor of Illinois was in China,trying to get some business for his State.
THIS IS CAPITALISM,my dear...YOU OUGHT TO PROMOTE YOUR
COUNTRY,YOUR STATE,YOUR TOWN!
MARKETING STRATEGY IS OF UPMOST IMPORTANCE IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY!
So...now you are syaing Ian Khama ought to make possible,that LOCAL mining companies,extract the natural resources.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THOSE MACHINERY FOR THE MINING
INDUSTRY COST?
And these mashines are NOT manufactured in Botswana...they come
from Germany,Poland,France and they MUST be paid in ,my dear!
NOBODY exploits Botswana's natural resources!
IT IS A TWO-WAY STREET!
International mining companies(most of them are Australian as Australia is
ALSO very rich on ORES) are investing in Botswana and THEY ARE
OBLIGED TO PAY TAXES!
So...if the Botswana Inland Revenue Service does not enforce the TAX
laws....it is THEIR OWN FAULT!
Ian Khama made some LEGAL mistakes but he and his Presidential
predessesors knew how to use their natural resources for the life
improvement of EVERY Motswana.
Of course there is still room for betterment...the RURAL sector is still underdeveloped and Khama should try to lure more manufactures in the country,even the market is limited.
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