01 Mar 2022

As of yesterday evening, all nine Batswana, comprising five women and four men working or studying in Ukraine were safe, with most having already crossed into neigbouring countries, after Russia launched a full-scale assault on its smaller western neighbour. 

Botswana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, which holds jurisdiction over Ukraine, Ms Chandapiwa Nteta told DailyNews in an interview that they were in touch with the country’s citizens, all of whom had confirmed they were safe.

“I have reached out to all of Batswana in Ukraine. Five of them have been able to cross borders to other countries and the others are en route out of Ukraine,” she said, adding a humanitarian corridor had been established for people to safely leave the country.

She explained the one Motswana who remained was still vacillating on whether to stay or go. Ms Nteta explained seven of the citizens were studying while two were working.

She said the embassy had advised them about the situation before the war, and they were preparing to leave when it started.

Ambassador Nteta explained that of the five Batswana who crossed, one went to Hungary, two to Slovakia and two to Poland.  The remaining three were on their way out of Ukraine and would possibly be going to Moldova or Slovakia. They all came from various cities in Ukraine, she said.

With Ukraine having closed its airspace to civilian flights, citing safety risk, very few options remained for passage out of the country. 

Resultantly, they used trains and cars to get to the borders, some of which are very far from their departure areas. For example those coming from Kiev, and going to the Polish capital of Warsaw, would have travelled over 1300 kilometres. That is about the same distance Gumare is from Gaborone, or 14 hours by bus.  By the time they reached refuge they would have been exhausted.

“They were exhausted because this was a long trip for them, and the waiting period in some of the borders has been exacting for them. 

It is also cold, and some had to walk long distances; there’s a drop off zone especially with Poland,” she said. With the snow season temperatures dipping to -6°C and peaking to only 4°C, travel would have been truly exacting. 

Regarding one of the students who had posted on social media that they had walked over 30 kilometres Ms Nteta said they eventually managed to establish contact after losing them for one day.

“We managed to contact them and they have made it safely across to Poland, she said.

Ms Nteta explained the student were self-sponsored and would be making own plans regarding how they would want to proceed.

“These are self-sponsored students, and as government we have no control over them, and I think they will make own decisions as to go back or otherwise; of course it takes time to rebuild after war depending how soon it stops,” she said in answer to whether it appeared like the students would be going back Ukraine.

Asked about whether Botswana had any plans to repatriate   them back to Botswana, Ms Nteta said: “It’s difficult to say as they’re in different places and have different plans about where they may want to go.”

She explained countries had set-up disaster sections, from which they would be processed and assisted to book flights to preferred destinations. 

“We have registered our interest with the countries to have our citizens assisted,” she said.

Botswana’s mission in Germany was assisting Batswana who crossed to Poland, but were working together with the Embassy in Stockholm to ease their travel.

Regarding social media reports that black people were discriminated against, Ms Nteta explained that it was possible Ukrainians were prioritising their own people to cross the border. 

Yet still, Ukrainian men from age 18 had been banned from leaving the country, and it was possible any man, regardless of colour would first be assumed to be Ukrainian. BOPA

 

 

SADC needs elders’ wisdom, expertise

 

By Ketshepile More

 

GABORONE - President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has expressed gratitude to the SADC Panel of Elders and Mediation Reference Group for their commitment to serving the region. 

The panel is part of the SADC Mediation and Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy structure.  

Dr Masisi, who is the outgoing chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, said when officiating at the closing of the induction meeting and hand-over ceremony of letters of appointment of the panel here today, that resolving conflict was a time-consuming and frustrating process. 

As such, the region valued the commitment by the panel to assist in conflict prevention, its management and resolution, he said. He further urged SADC key policy and decision-making structures to fully make use of the panel as the region needed their invaluable expertise.

Dr Masisi said part of the groups’ agenda would be to find a lasting solution to acts of extremism and terrorism in the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique, that had disrupted socio-economic order, resulted in injuries and death of citizens of the region; as well as civil disturbances in the Kingdom of eSwatini. 

Dr Masisi said SADC was expected to play a critical role of brokering a consensual national dialogue towards addressing the challenges facing eSwatini.  

President Masisi commended the selfless commitment of countries that contributed troops to the SADC Mission in Mozambique as well as to the entire SADC community for committing resources to enhance the peace-keeping mission.

The panel of elders and mediation reference group comprises former President of Tanzania Dr Jakaya Kikwete, former Vice President of Mauritius Mr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory, former Zimbabwean Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion Mr Patrick Chinamasa, and Botswana’s former Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning Mr Charles Tibone.  

The induction meeting was held to among others, enable a clear understanding of the mandate and functions of the SADC Mediation, Conflict Prevention and Preventative Diplomacy Structure and Framework by panel members as well as consider the SADC Draft Five Year Strategic Plan. Ends