Elias Fund - Blog

Zimbabwe’s western neighbor, Botswana, has boycotted the current gathering of the Southern Africa Development Community in Johannesburg. Botswana president, Ian Khama, considers Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe an illegitimate president after winning ‘re-election’ from a one-candidate presidential run-off. Thus, by remaining ‘true to its democratic principles’ Botswana had to boycott the regional summit.

Botswana’s stand for democracy needs to be replicated by other regional states. The crisis in Zimbabwe causes great strain on all its neighbors, mainly by way of fleeing refugees seeking asylum outside of Zimbabwe, and until regional heads-of-state take a stand against Mugabe’s regime, the situation will continue to deteriorate. Therefore, Zimbabwe’s neighbors need to hold accountable the actions of Zimbabwe’s dictator, especially if any positive development is to come from the on-going unity talks.

Let’s thank Botswana for their bravery, and hope other leaders follow suit. Surely it would be Mbeki’s vindication! But we won’t hold our breath for that…