BCP condemns Masisi’s political statement during state visit
Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) has expressed concern at the “sinister comments” made by President Mokgweetsi Masisi during his recent State Visit to Zimbabwe. The party says its resentment is resultant from President Masisi’s irresponsible commentary which utterly disregards the prevailing political and economic situation engulfing Zimbabwe. Masisi stated that Botswana continues to call for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe. “We just came from our elective congress, and ZANU PF was represented very well. The two ruling parties have relations, we are friends.” As a fraternal friend of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party ( BDP), ZANU PF attended the BDP National Congress held in Tsabong where it presented a solidarity message. BCP Information and Publicity Secretary Professor Mpho Pheko said President Masisi’s visit to Zimbabwe was a State visit, the BCP is therefore surprised at the partisan nature of his welcome, which is a foreign practice in the conduct of international relations, especially those of sovereign nations. “President Masisi’s attempt to absolve ZANU PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the Zimbabwean crisis is not only an affront and insult to the suffering people of Zimbabwe, but it is also an attempt to revise history in the most deceptive way. “It is similar to convincing us that Idi Amin was an honourable man. The fact is the sanctions are only targeted at designated people in Zimbabwe, who are key members of the Mugabe regime, including Mnangagwa. “How this affects the economy of Zimbabwe is yet to be explained. President Masisi must confide in Batswana before he tells the world that he speaks on their behalf,” Prof Pheko said. The BCP called upon the Government of Zimbabwe to introduce the necessary reforms that will allow for true democracy to thrive. Prof Pheko said repression of political opponents and intimidation of those that challenge the ZANU PF regime should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. According to the BCP spokesperson instead of focusing on President Mnangagwa’s personal problem of sanctions, the BCP pray the two must provide economic relief to Zimbabweans at home to scale down economic migrants in other countries. They must stop repressive actions against citizens of Zimbabwe whose only crime is to offer alternative voice and express their democratic rights, Prof Pheko said.
She added that the duo must provide a solution to the continuing cases of cattle rustling between the two countries. She said the two presidents must further deliberate on democratic reforms that among others, would allow Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to participate in their country’s electoral processes, without having to cross borders. “The BCP believes that Zimbabwe can be better, and while the economic situation in Zimbabwe has trickle- down south, blaming targeted sanctions, without resolving the mentioned points, is not in the interest of an ordinary Zimbabwean.
“Having noticed decline of democracy and the disregard of the rule of law in Botswana under the BDP government, the BCP hopes that the budding friendship between BDP and ZANU PF will not further undermine democracy in the two countries,” the BCP spokesperson said.