This is the question after a representative of Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF, Judith Mkwanda addressed the 13th Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Women Wing's Congress in Nata. Mkwanda even presented a token of appreciation to Botswana President Ian Khama in the form of artifacts, which were approved by the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe.
It was all pomp and glory at the top table at the Nata Senior Secondary School as BDP women shouted Pamberi na ZANU-PF as Mkwanda took to the podium before presenting a token of appreciation to Khama. The two parties representatives then addressed each other as old political friends only divided by international boundaries. It was like the two political organisations had just discovered each other's worth. This is a far cry from the hardline stance taken by the BDP and the Botswana government against ZANU-PF and Mugabe after disputed elections in 2008.
After the silent diplomacy under former president Festus Mogae, Botswana's foreign policy on Zimbabwe changed after Khama came to power in April 2008. Khama's government wasted no time in telling off Mugabe and ZANU-PF for their dictatorial ways and siding with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change under current Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.
