HARARE A diplomatic row is brewing between Harare and Gaborone after Zimbabwean security forces arrested three armed game rangers from Botswana who strayed into Zimbabwean territory last week while tracking wild animals. The three armed scouts were nabbed last week in Kazungula close to Victoria Falls after they crossed into Zimbabwe by mistake while tracking lions that had killed two cows in Lesoma village along the border. Botswana said on Thursday that it was deeply concerned about the continued detention of its wildlife officials who allegedly crossed into the Zimbabwe territory in chase of marauding lions which had attacked cattle.
A statement from Botswanas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Gaborone viewed the arrest as unfortunate and regrettable, warning that it may harm good relations between the two neighbour countries.
The three officers made a genuine mistake of crossing the border into Zimbabwe as they were tracking lions that had killed two cows in Lesoma village in Botswana. The Ministry has reassured the Zimbabwean authorities that the officers had no intention of violating the sovereign integrity of Zimbabwe, the ministry said. Botswana said both its foreign ministry and the countrys embassy in Harare had since last week tried in vain all the diplomatic channels to gain freedom of those arrested.
Zimbabwes ambassador of Zimbabwe to Botswana was summoned twice to the foreign ministry to seek the Zimbabwe governments intervention in finding an amicable diplomatic solution to the problem. Likewise, our ambassador in Harare has been to the Zimbabwe Foreign Ministry several times to seek their intervention on the matter. In the past, both the Government of Botswana and Zimbabwe have found amicable solutions to similar incidents, said the statement.
Botswana said it regretted the fact that the Zimbabwe government was insisting on taking the three officers through their court systems rather than resolving the matter through diplomatic channels. The Government of Botswana therefore has found no option, but to engage legal representation for the three officers.
Zimbabwe Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka confirmed that they are holding the three officers in their police cells. Zimbabwe officials say the three should appear in court as there is a possibility that they could have been carrying dangerous arms of war. Botswana President Ian Khama is a staunch critic of President Robert
Mugabe and has openly called for his Zimbabwe counterpart to resign.
The borderline between the two countries is difficult to identify because there is no fence or markings. In 2006 a Botswana Television news crew was arrested in Zimbabwe on
charges of illegally entering the country.
Post published in: News