Botswana closes ranks with SADC on Zimbabwe

• Top MDC official says Tsvangirai will go into government 'next week'

• Mugabe hopes unity government will open 'new chapter'

• Tsvangirai, Biti at war over unity government

• Document: SADC communique on Zimbabwe - January 26-26, 2009

• SADC leaders claim breakthrough, MDC says no deal

• SA police charge MDC over illegal protest

• Khathu Mamaila: Stalling may no longer be an option for Tsvangirai

• Analysis: No easy options for Tsvangirai

• Mugabe, Tsvangirai in private meeting

• Tsvangirai hopeful of breakthrough at summit

• South Africa to host new Zimbabwe summit

• SADC summit unlikely to break deadlock

• 'Sad day' as Mugabe, Tsvangirai fail to agree on power sharing

• Compared: Tsvangirai and Mugabe's ministerial wish lists

• Document: Tsvangirai MDC reveals ministerial demands

• US, UK plans to torpedo unity government draw fire

• US withdraws support for unity government

• Alfi Nyoni: Why Tsvangirai must join government

Posted to the web: 28/01/2009 16:11:12
BOTSWANA closed ranks with other regional countries on Wednesday in endorsing a SADC timeline for the formation of a power sharing government in Zimbabwe.

Growingly critical of the Zimbabwe government with some of the most barbed comments by a neighbouring country, Botswana cooled the rhetoric and said it looked forward to a new era of trust between President Robert Mugabe and his long time rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.

The two men agreed to a SADC timetable for the formation of a new government at the end of an extraordinary summit in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The first step would be the passage of a Constitutional Amendment Bill by February 5; the swearing in of the Prime Minister and his two deputies by February 11; and the swearing in of Ministers and Deputy Ministers on February 13 “which will conclude the process of the formation of the inclusive government”.

"We support the recommendations of a formation of a new government of a national unity because the deal states that the prime minister and vice prime ministers should take office on February 11 this year, and the ministers and vice ministers on February 13. We believe it will work this time around because there is a timeframe,” Botswana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Ramadeluka Seretse told reporters on Wednesday.

He added: "What is important for both parties is to trust each other. The people of Zimbabwe are suffering and there is no need for political games. We also believe that the people of Zimbabwe should be given a chance to find a solution for these problems. The two parties should sit down and resolve their differences.”

Botswana has been a leading critic of President Robert Mugabe’s government in the region, leading to a chill in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Ahead of Monday’s SADC summit in South Africa, Mugabe took the first step to reach out to his Botswana counterpart Ian Khama by sending his close ally and confidante Emerson Mnangagwa for clear-the-air talks.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com