Botswana president attacks xenophobia in state of nation address
By Tererai Karimakwenda
20 November 2006
Speaking to parliament last week during his 4th state of the nation address Botswana president Festus Mogae urged his countrymen to be more cooperative with foreigners if Botswana is to develop economically. Reporting from the capital Gaberone our correspondent Oscar Nkala said it was clear Mogae was referring to the attitude of the locals towards Zimbabweans. He said Mogae urged the Tswana to abandon their “go it alone” attitude that is hindering the formation of business partnerships.
Nkala said although the Botswana leader did not specify that he was talking about Zimbabweans there was no doubt in the minds of many who he meant. News about Zimbabwean cattle rustlers stealing hundreds of herds from Botswana had been all over the headlines in both countries. Gangs of highly organised cattle rustlers from Zimbabwe were reportedly using mountain bikes to travel the rough terrain in Botswana and police were failing to stop them.
News about Zimbabwean agents spying in Botswana had also made recent headlines. Nkala said it is an accepted fact when the Tswana speak of xenophobia it is Zimbabweans they mean. According to Nkala, President Mogae said it is not possible to do business with the same people you despise.
Nkala said Zimbabwean refugees were also discussed at the 24th Session of the Botswana/Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, which took place in Masvingo last week. According to Phandu Skelemani, the Botswana minister for presidential affairs and public administration, the issue of security, illegal immigration and cross-border theft will remain a major aspect of discussions for the Joint Commission.
Nkala said Skelemani accused his Zimbabwean counterpart security minister Didymus Mutasa of dealing with these issues selectively. Skelemani felt that Mutasa only looks at the economic factors driving Zimbabweans to Botswana without addressing the political reasons why they are fleeing.
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