Khama steals the show in Harare

NOZIPHO MASEKO | Thursday September 18, 2008 00:00

 

The Botswana leader had stayed away from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit held in South Africa last month in protest over the presence of Mugabe whose leadership following the controversial presidential run-off elections last June was not recognised by the Botswana Government.

At the conference centre, the crowd became ecstatic when Khama entered, applauding the Botswana leader for what many said was his principled stand on Zimbabwe.   Each time speakers made reference to SADC leaders present, the crowd shouted out Khama's name in a clear demonstration of how the Botswana leader had made an impact by his stance.  Even Mugabe himself could not avoid making reference to Khama in his speech.

'We have Khama here. Yes lots of things have been said, criticism has been made, but I said nothing,' he said as the crowd jeered.

'I have always made it a policy that I will never attack any African leader in public. I will have my day.

'We have always had cordial, very good relations with Botswana as a country and his father, Sir Seretse Khama, was a very good friend when he was (the President of Botswana), and I know the same kind of relationship still exists with Ian Khama.'