Zims blast embassy officials for cruelity (04-09-07)

ticipation that all those who left Zimbabwe are likely to be the
enemies of the state, it has emerged.

Speaking to this reporter in Gaborone, many Zimbasbweans said it has
become so pointless for them to visit the embassy in Botswana to seek
for assistance as the staff at the embassy treat them as enemies of the
governement .

“I recently visited the embassy to seek assistance on how to process
my papers, but I was shocked to be harassed and given a cold shoulder
by my fellow country men. I did not get any help from them until I went
to some Botswana government officials who assisted me with cheerful
smiles” said Lovemore Ncube from Bulawayo.

Another Zimbabwean said when he went to the embassy to certify his
copies of certificates, theofficials at the embassy harshly talked to him
as if he had committed a crime. They went on to tell him that he has
to pay P50 for each copy which he said was too expensive for him.

“I then went to a police station in Gaborone city centre where the
officer certified my documents in a friendly manner that I did not
expect. I was really surprised to notice that my fellow nationals can shun me
like that yet the Batswana could assist me in that way,”said Bhekuzulu
Thebe.

Several Zimbabweans said after experiencing some problems in Botswana
and approached their embassy, they could not get the intended help.
A visit to the embassy by this reporter established that the embassy
spends most time deserted as people fear the iltreatment from the officials.

Official sources at the embassy who asked to remain anonymous said
the allegations were lies .he however went on to accuse Zimbabweans of
what he called unbecoming behaviour . He accused them of doing a lot of
disgraceful things in Botswana .

“Most Zimbabwean do a lot of illegal things here, and try to connive
with us, When we reject them they say we are unfriendly to them, and
that is not true. People are criminals here and want to engage
the governement in their illegal deals and that is not possible” said the source.

Many people in Botswana said the Zimbabwe embassy only assists those who
are serving Mugabe’s governement. The rest are left to suffer.