Communites Point lauds Botswana on its election

COMMUNITIES Point takes this opportunity to congratulate the people of Botswana at the end of yet another peaceful voting and election period.

You have shown that elections can be held without in an African country without shedding blood and producing a winner in a system that can pass any audit as fair and just; and this encourages us that other African countries, particularly Zimbabwe, are not very chasing after shadows as could be seen.

While the democracy and freedom that Zimbabweans have fought for the past 113 years, still remains elusive to our beloved nation, successful holding and handling of elections in our western neighbour does not restore our dignity as a nation but manages to restore our confidence that even in Zimbabwe, it can indeed be done!

Without prejudice to the other contestants, we believe in his victory President Ian Seretse Khama can indeed rejoice as to the people of Zimbabwe, it is the endorsement by Batswana of His Excellency’s foreign policy alternative. Together with the late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, President Khama had authored a new, workable and robust foreign policy initiative for Africa, where they had sought to give the old mantra of nurturing a club of infallibles a huge kick out.

The voice that said ZANU PF was wrong in Zimbabwe was loud and clear, and the writing that censured them was legible and flawless and in his leadership Communities Point believe Zimbabwe has a true friend who will still stand up for the common good. The part played by Botswana in Zimbabwe did not start with the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change and the ascendency to the presidency of President Seretse Ian Khama. Even in pre-colonial times and as the Linder Starr Jameson’s Pioneer Column was crossing into Zimbabwe in 1890, the Amangwato Kingdom, in which the Khamas are the Monarch, refused to use their territory as the springboard through which the forcible colonisation of Zimbabwe would happen. This was regardless of the fact that Botswana had chosen to be a British Protectorate.

During the UDI era, a much poorer Botswana, had two choices to make: align with prosperous Rhodesia at the expense of fellow freedom fighters and reap the goodies then in Zimbabwe or align with ZAPU and ZANU and face consistent, cruel and devastating military incursions from a well-equipped Rhodesian military.

Botswana chose the later and true to the expectations, the people of Botswana suffered from both missed opportunities by not aligning with a successful economy and also regular military incursions into their territory with both fatalities and casualties for the country’s citizens. This is what makes Botswana’s stand on Zimbabwe very principled. Of all the international critics of ZANU PF, Botswana remains the most credible as they are playing the same part they played in Zimbabwe at the hour of our greatest need.

As a pressure group we acknowledge with happiness this unwavering support and encourage the people of Botswana to remain seized of the plight of Zimbabweans and continue to remind them that as our neighbour and the custodians of our liberation struggle, they owe a duty of care towards Zimbabwe and it is their role that the blood of our brothers and sisters who died in their country does not go in vain as those who govern try to entrench themselves in power even with a resounding defiance from the people of Zimbabwe.

Long live our good neighbour, Patsa keNala!

Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa
mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413