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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Botswana Legislators Call For Tougher Stance Against Mugabe |
| 2006-03-29 |
| The Botswana government is under pressure from some of its MPs to take a tougher stance against President Mugabe, blaming him for the influx of illegal Zimbabwean migrants into their country. According to media reports from Botswana, the MPs said the deteriorating socio-political and economic situation in Zimbabwe was having a knock-on impact on their country. They said the number of illegal migrants fleeing hunger and political persecution was increasing. They reportedly condemned the victimisation of border jumpers by Botswana's Special Support Group, saying it was Mugabe who deserved to be punished instead. Botswana's state-owned Daily News reported that Chapson Butale, the MP for North-East and other legislators, were putting pressure on President Festus Mogae to denounce Mugabe and urge him to address the crisis in his country. The MPs expressed their concern during a recent session of Parliament. "We are punishing the victims instead of the man who caused all this," said Butale. "Let us take on the Zimbabwe government because that is where the problem lies." Mompati Merafhe, Botswana's Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, was reported to have reiterated:"We want to be constructively engaged with Zimbabwe because the country is our important neighbour and we believe our interests can be best served if we maintain a healthy dialogue." The Daily News reported Merafhe was reacting to reports that the United States government was urging Harare's neighbours to mount pressure on Mugabe to pave the way for fresh elections by handing over power to a transitional government. An unnamed US official was quoted by the French news agency, recently as saying: "What we are telling them (Zimbabwe's neighbours) is that there has to be a transitional government in Zimbabwe that will lead to a free and fair internationally supervised elections." President Mugabe has previously dismissed such calls. |
| Posted by:Pappy |