Botswana speaks out against Mugabe

Reuters:

Botswana called at an African Union summit on Tuesday for President Robert Mugabe to be barred from regional meetings because of his widely condemned re-election.

It was the toughest public statement from one of Zimbabwe's neighbors since Mugabe was sworn in on Sunday following a one-candidate election condemned by monitors as violent and unfair.

Botswana's statement came as a two-day summit in Egypt debates a resolution calling for a unity government in Zimbabwe.

"In our considered view, it therefore follows that the representatives of the current government in Zimbabwe should be excluded from attending SADC (Southern African Development Community) and African Union meetings," a text of summit remarks by Vice President Mompati Merafhe said.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has also called for Mugabe, 84, to be suspended from the African Union after an election which extended the veteran leader's 28-year rule.

The Botswana statement underlined the deep rifts both within Africa as a whole and among Zimbabwe's neighbors.

Regional power South Africa, the designated mediator in Zimbabwe, has resisted open condemnation of Mugabe.

...


South Africa has been a disgraceful excuse for a mediator. Botswana does not have the clout of South Africa, but at least its leadership had the courage to speak out against the brutal repression of Mugabe. If more of Zimbabwe's neighbors would join them, it might finally make a difference. I fail to understand how anyone could stand up for what Mugabe has done and is doing.

The AFP reports that the African Union has endorsed a "unity government."

...

The AU resolved "to encourage President Robert Mugabe and the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace, stability," the official said, requesting anonymity.

It also resolved "to support the call for the creation of a government of national unity, to support SADC (Southern African Development Community) facilitation."

...


I do not think either side would agree to this and if they did I am sure that Mugabe's side would not honor the agreement.

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