GNU is not the best choice-Skelemani
The proposed government of national unity is not the solution to Zimbabwe’s deepening crisis, Botswana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister said Thursday.
Phandu Skelemani said new elections are a better choice than the coalition proposal that emerged from South African-mediated talks between ZANU-PF and the MDC.
“This government of national unity is not the best solution,” Skelemani said in the Ethiopian capital, where ministers were meeting ahead of the AU summit Sunday.
Last month the government of Botswana implied that they will cut diplomatic ties with Zimbabwe within six months if the proposed powersharing deal with the MDC collapses.
Addressing Botswana’s Parliament Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister, Phandu Skelemani hinted on the possible development telling the Assembly that if the deal collapses in the next six months, his government will “go back to square one” by not recognising Mugabe as president nor his government.
“Consequent to this allegation, Botswana was shocked by the baseless and absurd charges that were levelled at Botswana by authorities in Zimbabwe at the extraordinary meeting of the Interstate Defence and Security Committee of the Organ Troika held in Maputo.
“The allegations that the government of Botswana would wish to train foreign nationals on its territory to effect regime change is ridiculous and all who are aware of Botswana’s longstanding commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, and peaceful resolution of disputes in our region and elsewhere would no doubt attest to this,” Skelemani said.
Posted by Mellisa Dube-Koketso
on January 30, 2009. Filed under Local News.
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