Many in Botswana, a country that has not been to war in recent memory, feared for the worst as it became apparent that there was a possibility of war between the two neighbouring states. Mmegi was one of the papers that strongly condemned the status quo saying in its comment, “Whilst we share our government’s frustration at how this issue was being handled by the rogue Zimbabwean government we are convinced that our own government is over-reacting and playing onto the cheap antics of Mugabe.
The new tough talk bordering on war talk from our government only serves to validate people like Mugabe and his cronies who have been itching for confrontation with those who do not see things their way”. It is a fact that ever since the ascension of President Ian Khama to the presidency, there have been tiffs before Botswana and her neighbour, mostly over the question of the legitimacy of Robert Mugabe’s government following the March 29, 2008 disputed elections and June 27 presidential run-off, won by Mugabe.
