BOTSWANA President Ian Khama on Friday lambasted Zanu PF for failing to adhere to provisions of the global political agreement (GPA), saying the failure to resolve outstanding issues was undermining the authority of the people.

In his State-of-the-Nation address to parliament, Khama expressed concern at the failure to resolve outstanding issues of the GPA, which last month resulted in the MDC-T partially disengaging from Zanu PF in cabinet.

"I must here, however, express concern at the continued failure of Zanu PF to fully honour the spirit of the power-sharing agreement," Khama said.

"In the absence of genuine partnership it would be better for all parties to go back to the people for they are the ultimate authority to determine who should form the government of Zimbabwe," said Khama, who has over the last year emerged as one of the most vocal critics of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.

He said his country would "continue to strongly defend the rights of people everywhere to elect their own leaders".

Khama was elected last month and saw his party, the Botswana Democratic Party, increasing its parliamentary majority.

Khama said Botswana will continue to work alongside other countries within the framework of Sadc, the African Union, and the United Nations to promote adherence to common and universal values.

The former army general said free and fair elections were the only avenue out of the perennial crisis in Zimbabwe.

"There can be no substitution for free, fair and credible elections, where people in any country should be allowed to elect representatives of their choice, and not have them imposed on them through rigged elections, brutalising opponents, military interventions, constitutional amendments to stay longer in power, and one-man rule that goes on for decades. Every country has a pool of people who have the ability to lead."

He expressed concern at what he said was a growing trend in Africa where negotiated settlements have become the order of the day.

Khama said: "One thing which I fear may become a trend in Africa if not stopped is where an individual and/or a political party in order to come into power or stay in power engage in unconstitutional and undemocratic actions to achieve this, which as we have already witnessed result in power-sharing arrangements and one-man rule.

Since assuming office in April last year, Khama has taken a hard stance against Mugabe and Zanu PF. This stance and his open support for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have made him unpopular with the Harare regime.