Botswana stance on Zimbabwe deadlock threatens diplomatic relations

Botswana claimed that all observers were agreed that the Zimbabwean polls were deeply flawed and did not meet the SADC principles on free and fair elections. Hence the elections did not produce a legitimately elected president.

After the first round of the elections, Botswana rubbed Mr. Mugabe the wrong way by providing political asylum to opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who claimed that his life was in danger in Zimbabwe. Botswana then engineered a special regional summit, in Lusaka Zambia to discuss the Zimbabwe situation and hauled Mr Tsvangirai along amidst protests from some countries.

ZANU-PF and Mr Mugabe definitely saw Botswana as a supporter of Mr Tsvangirai, the man they love hate.

When reports emerged that the West might launch a military invasion of Zimbabwe, Botswana was seen as the obvious launching pad. Such reports came amidst claims that Botswana has put its military on high alert because of the Zimbabwe crisis.

Botswana soldiers were said to be patrolling the common border with Zimbabwe partly to control crime, illegal crossings but also to monitor what is going on in the strife-torn neighbouring. Zimbabwe sternly warned Botswana about any hostile military manouvres and said that it is prepared for a fight.

Botswana’s decision to welcome political refugees from Zimbabwe and to highlight their plight further put a dent in the two countries’ relationship.