Botswana makes u-turn on Zimbabwe
EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer
Botswana has rescinded her decision to recall her defence and intelligence attaches from Zimbabwe. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that in a bilateral meeting held in Zimbabwe, the two countries discussed mutual defence and security matters together with a range of issues concerning wildlife, customs and excise, prisons and animal diseases.
| | |
| |  |
A few weeks ago Botswana decided to withdraw her defence and intelligence attaches and gave Zimbabwe an ultimatum to follow suit and withdraw their attaches (defence and intelligence). Botswana was reacting to Zimbabwe's insistence that the three wildlife officers who were arrested for crossing into the Zimbabwean border by mistake should be taken to court to determine their innocence or otherwise. The trio were released and punished with the Prohibited Immigrant status. However Zimbabwe has since rescinded the decision.
At the weeklong Botswana-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, attended by Defence, Justice and Security minister Ramadeluka Seretse and Labour and Home Affairs Minister, Peter Siele it was decided that there was "need to strengthen cooperation at various levels in respective areas of defence and security between Botswana and Zimbabwe and also the need to nurture cooperation to ensure continued peace and stability in two countries," reads the statement.
In an interview with Mmegi, Siele said they also discussed immigration issues and operations of borders between the two countries.
"Normally we collaborate with our Zimbabwean neighbours. When we arrest illegal immigrants we document them, getting information about them and their country of origin. Then we take them to Zimbabwe officials, who after confirming that the person we are repatriating is indeed their citizen take them themselves," he said.
The minister has however said that the illegal immigrant problem continues to overstretch Botswana's resources.
When asked on the reaction of the Zimbabwean authorities he explained, "they acknowledged that there is a problem and that it is a much bigger problem than just repatriation of illegal immigrants. This is a problem that has to do with the political and socio-economic situation in that country. The good thing is that we had this meeting in a cordial atmosphere," he said.
