SKELEMANI BLASTS MUGABE
THE Botswana government was the first SADC country to go on record to blast Zimbabwe’s now late President Robert Mugabe saying it does not recognize him as president. The then Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Phandu Skelemani was on record denouncing the 2008 election process.
“We have no problem with the people of Zimbabwe, but we have a problem with someone who will beat up other people on the runup to elections,” he said. Skelemani was briefing the press on Friday after the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) observer mission reported that the 27 June presidential run-off elections were not free and fair, as they did not conform with the SADC, African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) principles. Skelemani further said that the government of Zimbabwe had shown no respect for institutions like SADC, the AU and UN by going ahead with the balloting, despite calls for postponement to make the environment conducive for elections.
The run-off was held despite the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, citing intimidation and violence against his supporters. An estimated 90 people were killed, tens of thousands displaced from their homes and scores abducted during the run-up to elections. This resulted in Mugabe going it alone and winning the elections.