US distances itself from �hate pastor�
Mpho Mokwape | Thursday September 22, 2016 16:17
Following a live radio interview, President Ian Khama slapped him with a Prohibited Immigrant order, which was served on him by security and immigration officials waiting for him outside the GabzFM premises Monday morning. He was later escorted to Sir Seretse International Airport to be boarded into a waiting aircraft out of the country. Yesterday, the embassy called a roundtable and in a brief official statement, deputy chief of mission, Timothy Smith said the US had no position regarding Anderson and Botswana.
He said what transpired between Anderson and Botswana had nothing to do with the embassy. “He might be a citizen of the US, but America has no relation with him and his church. He is an individual and that is why we have no position on him,” he said.
Smith said there was no evidence that Anderson was mistreated while detained and as such the embassy would not follow up on the matter, “As far as the US is concerned we do not intend meddling in the affairs of Botswana regarding Anderson. Any need for further clarity should be directed to the government of Botswana,” he said.
On Anderson’s utterances regarding the gays community, Smith said Anderson had his own opinions, which did not represent the US government. “Whatever he said about the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transvestite) community is his own opinion. The US as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, supports the LGBT community and their freedom,” he said.