19 Nov 2017

The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation has said the Botswana Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, remains open contrary to an article which appeared in the Botswana Guardian of Friday 17^th November titled Fall from Grace.  

The ministry states that the embassy remains open as the current situation does not pose security threat to its smooth operation.

It states that Batswana living in Zimbabwe have been cautioned to be vigilant and avoid going out at night for their personal safety.

The ministry further states that South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma was in Botswana for a scheduled meeting of Botswana-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), and not for the Southern African Development Community meeting.

It is says however, the ministerial meeting of the Troika of SADC on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, comprising Angola, Zambia, Tanzania plus South Africa, as the chair of SADC, was convened on Thursday, at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, to help address the situation in Zimbabwe. 

The Guardian article had said the Botswana Embassy in Zimbabwe was temporarily closed and further, it said President Zuma was in Botswana for a SADC meeting to deal with events in Zimbabwe. Ends