In its political rallies, seminars and educational pamphlets it consistently hammered the idea that Botswana could not consider itself genuinely free and independent while the rest of the world was under the tight grip of oppressive regimes. In this way, the ideas of Internationalism and solidarity with popular liberation struggles was deeply engrained in the consciousness of ordinary members of our movement.
One of the quotes on Solidarity that has always remained relevant is the one by none other than Cde Samora Moises Machel who said, "International Solidarity is not an act of charity; it is an act of unity between allies fighting on different terrains towards the same objectives. The foremost of these objectives is to assist in the development of humanity to the highest level possible." It is therefore not by accident that the BNF stood firm in solidarity with the struggles of Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola and Mozambique. We were in solidarity with these struggles on the basis of principle. We continue to be in solidarity with the struggles in different terrains particularly Western Sahara, Palestine and Swaziland. But because this year the Israeli Apartheid Week campaign, which we endorses, will run between the 6th and 12th of March, this article will be focusing on the Palestinian struggle. Maybe we should also congratulate the BDP government for shockingly taking a principled position of raising concerns about the re-admission of Morocco into the AU fold at the recent summit. Western Sahara continues to be last colony in Africa under another African state, Morocco.
