Khama has driven Botswana into isolation - opposition

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday April 13, 2011 00:00

Since President Khama ascended to power in April 2008, he has never attended a gathering of the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN). In addition to that he has ignored calls by Members of Parliament (MPs) to attend those gatherings to represent the country but has dedicated his time to local trips and house-to-house surprise visits.

Despite failure to attend international gatherings, Botswana has recently been quick to pronounce its position on any political dispute ranging from Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, to Libya and even going to the extent of cutting diplomatic ties with various governments.

Yesterday, the Botswana government issued a statement, welcoming the arrest of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo and calling for resolution of the Libyan conflict. While Botswana continues to shout at the top of its voice on any international dispute, the global community continues to ignore her voice and isolate the country.

Leader of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang Saleshando said in Gaborone yesterday that the AU and the UN do not see Botswana as a partner because she always stands alone, taking sides in a conflict that needs to be approached with cool heads. He added that with the 'we know better' attitude of the Botswana government, it would be difficult for any organisation to engage the country. He said that the government should learn to engage with other countries for it to influence them to appreciate its views on any international subject.

Saleshando said that for Khama to be refusing to attend world gatherings, he has left the country with an unknown president. 'For three years Khama has never attended the UN General Assembly and other leaders do not know him or his views,' he said. He added that in the past Botswana was engaged to mediate in conflicts in Somalia, Lesotho and others because then, the government was engaging leaders of other countries and participating in international organisations at the highest level.

Botswana National Front (BNF) spokesperson Moeti Mohwasa aired similar concerns and cautioned that President Khama must desist from rushed and biased pronouncements if he wants to maintain the image of Botswana as a democratic country that has respect for other nations. He said that Botswana distanced herself from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) resolution on Zimbabwe in 2008 following disputed presidential elections in Zimbabwe. Litany of Botswana' rushed positions on foreign conflicts

July 2008* Botswana announces that it does not recognise Robert Mugabe as the legitimate president of Zimbabwe and calls on all regional neighbours to do the same. Nobody heeds to Botswana's call and other countries continue to engage with warring parties in Zimbabwe until the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU-PF sign a Global Partnership Agreement (GPA) in February 2009 to form a unity government. President Khama attended the signing ceremony in Harare among other heads of state.

February 2010* Togolese players are shot at in an ambush as they enter Angolan territory in a bus to take part in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.  A dispute erupts between Togolese government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) over the safety of the players, which led to suspension of Togo from the tournament. Only Botswana government rushes to issue a statement condemning CAF while other nations are calling for an amicable solution to the dispute.

January 2011* A dispute erupts in the Ivory Coast following November's disputed presidential elections between Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo. The international community recognises Ouattara as the legitimate winner and requests Gbagbo to step down. The UN and AU try all possible routes to resolve the problem, but Botswana rushes ahead and invites Ouattara, who is still locked up in a hotel under protection of UN forces, for a State visit to the country. The UN and AU continue to engage the parties in the dispute until they start using force two weeks ago leading to Gbagbo's arrest on Monday.

February 2011* An uprising erupts against Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi by opponents of  his 42-year-old autocratic rule following similar uprisings in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. Botswana immediately shuts down the Libyan Embassy in Gaborone pronouncing that it has cut all diplomatic relations with the Tripoli regime.

As the conflict rages on, UN and AU continue to engage various heads of state to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Just last Sunday, AU appointed a delegation of four heads of state led by South African President Jacob Zuma to find a durable solution to Libyan crisis. Some of the leaders' democratic credentials are however questionable and less attractive than Botswana.