Botswana opposition blasts government’s quiet diplomacy on Mugabe

By Tererai Karimakwenda and Warren Moroka
8 November 2005

The leader of Botswana’s main opposition party has called on Batswana to remember that Zimbabwean illegal immigrants in that country are not petty criminals but innocent people running away from the difficulties created by the dictatorship of President Robert Mugabe.

Otswelese Moupo is the president of the Botswana National Front and a newly elected Member of Parliament for the Gaborone-North-West constituency.

In his State of The Nation address last week, Moupo took a swipe at the government of President Festus Mogae for pursuing what he called a failing policy of quiet diplomacy towards Zimbabwe.

He said the situation in Zimbabwe required open criticism of the government, which he said is pursuing destructive economic and political policies. He said his party was guided by the need to rail against all forms of oppression and would continue to speak out against the excesses of the Zimbabwean government.

Moupo’s remarks flew in the face of Foreign Affairs minister Momphati Merafhe who praised Phekelezela Mphoko, Zimbabwe’s outgoing ambassador to Botswana, for doing a great job throughout his assignment.

Meanwhile security forces in Francistown this week carried on with a crackdown on illegal immigrants. Many more Zimbabweans were netted in weekend raids.