He said yesterday that what Mphoko did at the Ditshwanelo seminar is what any person or diplomat would do when his country’s name is being dragged in the mud. The envoy went ballistic at the seminar and dismissed the all-Zimbabwe panel as sell-outs that distort facts about their country. The seminar and the panellists had criticised Zimbabwe. Mpofu said that in a similar situation, he would do the same thing as Mphoko. He said he would not sit back when the likes of Survival International, a British-based NGO fighting for the rights of Basarwa distorts facts about Botswana. “Even myself, I won’t sit back and listen quietly or smile back while the NGO distorts facts about the relocation of Basarwa.” Mpofu said diplomats are humans and they can have feelings and weaknesses.
However, he acknowledged that the Zimbabwean diplomat has problems with his temper. He suggested that Mphoko should have sent his subordinates to the seminar instead of going there himself. In the past, he said, he had briefed the Zimbabwean envoy about freedom of the press in Botswana. He informed him that the local press does not only write bad things about Zimbabwe but Botswana and even President Festus Mogae had complained.
He asserted that Mphoko has done many good things in Botswana despite his recent behaviour. Mpofu told Mmegi that Mphoko has portrayed the good image of Botswana to his people and advised them to abide by the law so that they can be treated well. He said the envoy clarified matters when Zimbabweans flogged for crimes in Botswana went back home and gave wrong reports that the punishment is not meted on Batswana. Mpofu said the diplomat investigated the matter thoroughly and found that everybody who was found guilty was flogged irrespective of his nationality.
He said they do not have problems with any envoy’s conduct at the moment. He explained that in instances where a host country is not satisfied with the conduct of a diplomat, the two countries hold talks to discuss the issue. Such talks are held when diplomats are engaged in criminal activities or uttering words that can influence bad relations between countries. There are currently over 15 diplomatic missions in Botswana.
