19 May 2015

SADC chairperson, also Zimbabwean president, Mr Robert Mugabe, arrived in Gaborone today (May 19) for a visit to the SADC headquarters.

President Mugabe will, among other things, meet SADC staff, have private lunch at State House and pay a courtesy call on President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama. President Mugabe will address a press conference before going back to Zimbabwe tomorrow afternoon (May 20).

Prior to President Mugabe’s arrival, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, addressed the media at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport where she condemned what she termed a deliberate intent by some media houses to create animosity and tensions between Botswana and Zimbabwe. She said she was disturbed by reports that President Mugabe was not accorded an honour befitting a head of state.

President Mugabe’s visit, Dr Venson-Moitoi said, was not a state visit, hence no guard of honour at the airport and hoisting of flags on street poles along Gaborone roads. The foreign affairs minister, not President Khama, welcomed President Mugabe at the airport since the latter is on a work related mission not state visit. 

“It is a normal practice throughout the world that as a minister responsible, I protocol his visit and not the president. I also afford him the necessary protocols linked with visits of other heads of state visiting the country on other official capacities,” she said.

Therefore, President Khama’s absence at the airport should not be viewed as lack of respect for Mr Mugabe.  ENDS