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From Mkhululi Chimoio in Gaborone, Botswana
Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape has repeated his country’s call for immediate removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States and its Western allies.
Zimbabwe has grappled with economic sanctions since 2002 when the US through the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (ZIDERA) imposed an embargo on the country in response to the land reform programme and the leading role played by Zimbabwe in the Southern African Community Development Community (SADC) intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998 in support of the government there.
“It is our call that sanctions unfairly imposed on Zimbabwe must be removed as matter of urgency,” said Minister Dr Kwape while addressing journalists ahead of the Sir Seretse Khama Day celebration in Gaborone over the weekend.
Observed annually on July 1 countrywide, the Sir Seretse Khama Day is a public holiday that commemorates the first President of Botswana on the anniversary of his birth date in 1921. Seretse Khama was the heir and grandson of King Khama III, who died in 1923. He officially became king when he was only four years old, but his uncle ruled as regent at first. Khama also studied abroad, married a British woman, and returned home to start and lead an independence movement in Botswana.
“Zimbabwe’s challenges are our own as SADC member states. What affects Zimbabwe affects everyone and as Africans we must move forward as a bloc. Those sanctions have not only destroyed the economy of Zimbabwe, but also families in that country. We cannot be happy in Botswana while Zimbabwe is not happy.
“We are one family and we should always fight together. Everyone must understand that those sanctions are impacting the economy in Zimbabwe and in the process unfairly hindering progress for the country and region at large,” added Minister Dr. Kwape who also applauded Zimbabwe for being peaceful ahead of the much anticipated 23rd of August Harmonised Elections.
“We are pleased with the direction that Zimbabwe is on. They have done well as they move towards their elections.”
Last year, while on a State visit to Zimbabwe, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi reiterated calls for the removal of sanctions against Harare.
“Viva Zimbabwe, viva Botswana. President Mnangagwa and I have a wonderful relationship. You must know. You must see it. You must feel it. You must watch it. I was telling him, we just came from our elective congress in our ruling party and Zanu PF was represented very well,” said President Masisi was quoted in the media.
“We are the ruling party in Botswana, the BDP [Botswana Democratic Party]. You are the ruling party in Zimbabwe. The two ruling parties have relations, they are friends, and the two of us belong to a movement of former liberation movements of southern Africa.
“That is why Botswana continues to call for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe. These sanctions must go. They must go forever. They are also sanctions against Botswana. If Zimbabwe is sanctioned, Botswana is sanctioned. We do not like that. So, tell your friends that we do not like these sanctions,” he said.
Recently, in their Sitting, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) endorsed and adopted a resolution that seeks to address the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US and its Western allies.
In October, SADC triumphantly commemorated the Anti-Sanctions Day, which is an important statement that was birthed by the 39th SADC Summit when southern African leaders declared October 25 as the date on which SADC Member States can collectively voice their disapproval of the sanctions through various activities and platforms until the sanctions are lifted.
The two neighbouring landlocked Southern African nations enjoy bilateral foreign relations. They established formal diplomatic relations in 1983 after protracted Zimbabwe War of Independence in which Botswana welcomed refugees but refrained from directly supporting the liberation movement due to existential concerns over encirclement by Rhodesia, South West Africa and South Africa.
Online Reporter