Of Botswana SADC, AU and the Zim crisis

The two reports say the presidential run-off did not meet the minimum standards of a fair election. The observers said the elections did not meet the unfettered will of the people of Zimbabwe.

Botswana concluded that the current representatives of the Zimbabwe government be excluded from attending both SADC and AU meetings. Though laudable, Botswana's support will not carry much weight if it is not supported by a reasonable number of both SADC and the AU members. It will perhaps serve the purpose of disassociating the country from the Mugabe regime. And more importantly, it will be more felt at the level of state to state, particularly if Botswana recalls its envoy from Zimbabwe. The other step would be for Botswana to close its border with Zimbabwe. But would Botswana do this?