(TALKZIMBABWE) Botswana implicated in MDC militia training

Botswana implicated in MDC militia training
Our reporter
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:03:00 +0000
President Seretse Khama Ian Khama

THE Government of Zimbabwe claims it has compiled enough evidence to implicate the Botswana Government of aiding the Movement for Democratic Change party in facilitating the training of militias to topple President Mugabe.

According the to Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, that evidence compiled by ex-Defence Forces personnel hired by the MDC-T party, has now been forwarded to the Sadc Troika on Politics, Defence and Security.

The personnel had compiled sufficient evidence to prove the existence of the plot, claims Chinamasa who said the matter was now in the hands of the Troika.

“You are aware that the last time the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security met in Harare, we lodged a complaint against Botswana,” said Chinamasa to the Herald newspaper.

He claimed that “Botswana has availed its territory, material and logistical support to MDC-T for the recruitment and military training of youths for the eventual destabilization of the country with a view to effecting illegal regime change.”

Chinamasa said that the Government now has “compelling evidence” against Botswana and that evidence has been sent to the Troika who are now in charge of the next stage.

“Compelling evidence has already been proffered and the matter is now in the hands of the (Sadc) Troika and it is not for us to say how the matter will proceed. The Troika is now in charge of the matter and we all await their next move.”

Chinamasa said the Government of President Seretse Khama Ian Khama has abrogated its duty as a Frontline State and has “has decided to be a destabilizing factor in the region”.

"My plea to Khama and his government is to think carefully about the irreversible harm they have been plotting to unleash on the region," Chinamasa said.

Botswana has called for an end to talk about its involvement in trying to effect militarized regime change in Zimbabwe.

"The claim of an invasion in our view is nothing more than a desperate attempt to gather support and sympathy from within and outside Zimbabwe in order to distract attention from the real problem," said the Botswana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement.

Phandu Skelemani, Botswanan Foreign Minister, however, repeated calls for a foreign force to come into Zimbabwe. He told Radio France Internationale over the weekend that “If Sadc fails, then the international community must come in, and must really force a runoff (election).”

Chinamasa said the Botswana Government was playing a very dangerous game which will have serious consequences not only for the people of Zimbabwe but for the Tswanas as well.

Last month the Zimbabwe Government claimed, just before the November 10 Sadc Summit in Sandton (South Africa) convened to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and DRC, that they had information which implicated Botswana in a plot to unseat President Mugabe through the use of militias.

According to reports from Harare, Tsvangirai had made overtures just before that meeting to meet with President Mugabe to discuss the issue of militias and President Mugabe had snubbed that call, preferring it to be handled by Sadc.

The Sadc Troika has said it will look seriously into the allegations.

Britain and the United States along with some African countries and leaders, for instance Botswana and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga have called for an international force to be sent to Zimbabwe, calls that have, however, been dismissed by the AU and Sadc.

The U.S. is currently engaging the U.N. Security Council to invoke the Responsibility to Protect clause on Zimbabwe, but those efforts seem likely to be blocked by permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China who have expressed that they prefer dialogue in resolving the Zimbabwean situation.

KENYA OPPOSED TO MILITARY INVASION

Meanwhile the Kenyan ambassador to Zimbabwe, John Abduba, has dismissed Odinga's call for AU troops in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at a reception to mark Kenya’s 45th independence anniversary, Abduba who refused to comment on Odinga's statement said the official position of the Kenyan Government was that a peaceful resolution was required and that the decisions of Sadc and the AU needed to be respected.

The Zimbabwean Government said it was not moved by Odinga's statements as they were his opinions, not the position of the Kenyan Government.