In an interview the two said the immigration issue has become explosive and something drastic needs to be done to rectify the situation, otherwise Botswana is heading for disaster.
“This country I am telling you is heading for serious civil unrest and even war, but our government seems not to care. There are always clashes of Batswana and Zimbabweans; this tells you that something somewhere is wrong,” Rantao said.
The MP questioned the clean up operations that are always carried out by the law enforcement officers against immigrants. He said the officers always arrest and deport many illegal Zimbabweans, who return immediately to Botswana. He stressed that the arrest and deport operations are not sustainable solutions because they drain taxpayer’s money.
“What members of the Botswana Police and BDF always do is a Ping Pong exercise because it is like a circle. They deport the Zimbabweans today and tomorrow they are back. This wild session of always chasing them like impalas and kudus is a game and it must stop. The question that we should also ask ourselves is, has that yielded our country any meaningful results. Definitely not. What we always do is to spend a lot of money deporting them.”
Rantao said that since the clean-up operations seem not to work, a more effective solutions needs to be formulated.
“I think our government must be vocal on this. It must start at local and then international level. At the local level, it must start at our Parliament and as legislators we must speak up. Internationally our country should consult with organisations like Southern African Development Community (SADC) and even African Union (AU) to see how this situation can be best dealt with. I see that as the only viable way. We cannot keep on chasing the Zimbabweans away and be silent. It will not work.”
Rantao emphasised that once the international bodies are consulted, Botswana should then seek mediation from one of the neighbouring countries. He said some countries face similar challenges and neighbouring countries normally mediate.
On his part Good attacked President Festus Mogae, Vice President Ian Khama and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mompati Merafhe, saying they should fully exercise their powers to deal with the Zimbabwean immigration issue. To his surprise, the three have been silent on the matter.
He compared the trio’s stance to that of South African President Thabo Mbeki who never says a thing about Zimbabwean problems even though they are heavily affecting his country.
“Mogae’s leadership of silent diplomacy is affecting this country negatively, and considering that this country is small, the consequences might be even bigger. I think Mogae, Khama and Merafhe must stand up.”
Good urged Mogae to meet his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Robert Mugabe because the previous meetings between junior officials have failed to produce results.
“I think the two presidents must meet and discuss this situation. During the SADC meeting in Mauritius last year, I thought Mogae would hold talks with Mugabe, but he was silent and I was really surprised.”
