Zimbabwe last month told SADC that Botswana was training youths from
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party into a rebel army to
oust Mugabe. The region has since appointed a taskforce to probe the
allegations denied by both Botswana and the MDC.
Motlanthe, speaking publicly for the first time on the Zimbabwean
allegation, told journalists in Pretoria the regional bloc did not
believe Botswana was training insurgents to fight Mugabe.
He said: "We do not believe that. We do not think there is any substance to the allegation.
But of course the Zimbabwean authorities would sight an explosion at a
police station and that kind of stuff to actually claim that the
government of Botswana could train the MDC cadres – its against the
SADC principles that is why we really take it with a pinch of salt."
The Zimbabwe government this week stepped up its accusations against
Gaborone claiming it had gathered irrefutable evidence that Botswana
and the MDC were plotting war on Mugabe's government.
The Harare authorities also attempted to link the shooting of Zimbabwe
Airforce chief Perence Shiri by unknown gunman to the alleged plot to
effect illegal regime change in Zimbabwe.
But Motlanthe seemed unconvinced, suggesting the only reason the SADC
ordered an investigation into the Zimbabwean claim was that it had been
made by a member-state.Â
He said: "But of course because the allegation was made officially,
that is why it had to be investigated but I have no doubt that it will
come to naught."
Motlanthe added that it did not make sense that an opposition party
that is properly registered and has participated in several elections
could now choose war as a means to gain political power.
"It (MDC) is represented in parliament . . . there would really be no
logic in that at this late hour they are planning for a military
option. There is an army in Zimbabwe which cannot be confronted with
people who are trained over weekends," said Motlanthe. – ZimOnline