Botswana has previously said fresh elections, under the supervision of external bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), is the only solution to the Zimbabwean impasse. Foreign Minister, Phandu Skelemani, who accompanied the president confirmed that Khama consulted Motlanthe in his capacity as the chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Botswana sought to be updated by the chairman on the progress made so far since the signing of the power-sharing agreement between the parties in Zimbabwe, said Skelemani yesterday from London where he is on an official visit with the president. President Khama told the South African media briefing after the Sunday meeting with Motlanthe that "our biggest concern is that the focus is moving away from the plight of the Zimbabwean people, who are suffering through starvation and diseases." Cholera epidemic is sweeping the besieged country, having claimed at least 300 people and affecting some 6,000 lives.
Skelemani said President Motlanthe briefed them on the power-sharing meeting planned for today in South Africa. Motlanthe told the South African public broadcaster that: "We agreed that, with regards to Zimbabwe, the next step really is to ensure that we unblock the impasse for them to take Amendment 19 through the senate and the assembly, so that Tsvangirai could be sworn in as prime minister and Mutambara as the vice prime minister and Mugabe as the president, so that once the three of them have been sworn in they can then form an inclusive government."
