GABORONE - The government of Botswana this week called on leaders in Harare to uphold human rights and stabilise the country, but singled out ZANU (PF) as the main problem. (Pictured: Botswana President Ian Khama)In a written statement released in Gaborone, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that it was “strongly concerned” that eight months into the inclusive government, there were, “still reports of arrests, violence and intimidation of political opponents in Zimbabwe.”
“We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe, specifically ZANU (PF), to ensure that law enforcement agencies protect the rights of citizens and uphold law and order,” the statement continued. “These incidents are unfortunate and deeply regrettable. They must come to an end.”
Botswana which recognises its own locally born whites as full members of the Batswana tribe has also demanded an end to the harassment of Roy Bennett, and said that, “Botswana deeply regrets that Mr. Roy Bennett, a candidate for the post of Assistant Minister of Agriculture has still not been sworn in.”
President Ian Khama has established a reputation for speaking his mind on Zimbabwe and other regional issues and, in his five years at the helm, he has frequently been at odds with both the Africa Union and SADC over their non-committal approach to human rights abuse in member states.
Last year foreign minister, Phandu Sekelemani, estimated that at least 250 000 refugees had crossed the border into his country, mostly from Matabeleland. If the figures are correct, and with a home population of just 1.7 million, it would mean that one in every seven people living in Botswana is from Zimbabwe.
Post published in: Politics