Back to Index

Civil society petitions President
Thato Chwaane, Mmegi (Botswana)
July 24, 2006

http://allafrica.com/stories/200607251026.html

The Botswana Civil Society Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) handed a petition to Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mompati Merafhe outside the government enclave in Gaborone last Thursday.

The petition highlighted the political, social and economic crisis faced by Zimbabweans. The minister was asked to pass the petition onto President Festus Mogae.

The petition marked the last week of 'Operation Murambatsvina'. Reading the petition, the director of Ditshwanelo - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, Alice Mogwe, said the exercise has affected the majority of the poor population. "Inflation is currently at 2 000 percent, the highest in the world by a vast margin," she said.

She said many Zimbabweans have escaped hardships in Zimbabwe, escaping poverty, hunger and oppression and have entered neighbouring countries. She said that 'silent diplomacy' has not been effective in addressing the situation in Zimbabwe.

"The truth must be spoken and the state of the crisis in Zimbabwe acknowledged by all the governments of SADC region. Smart sanctions which target only those abusing their positions of power and oppressing the citizens of Zimbabwe should be seriously explored by the Botswana Government and civil society," Mogwe said. A Zimbabwean speaker, Father Nicholas Mkaronda, said that the Murambatsvina operation destroyed the houses of the weak, poor and vulnerable.

He said the pastors opened the doors of the churches and welcomed the displaced people, providing accommodation for them. He said the government evacuated people from those churches and many were seen walking up to 100 km back to those churches. He noted the atrocities made against the people, including children who were left out in the open winter to die. Children come back from schools to find they have no houses. Some living with HIV/AIDS were exposed.

Mkaronda said they would continue to speak as a civic society to put things right in Zimbabwe. Kgosi Michael 'Spokes' Gaborone noted that although he acknowledged the difficulties faced by Zimbabweans and the government was willing to assist them, they should desist from crime.

"Ga ba re robatse - We do not sleep because of them," he said. He said some engaged in sex work together with their Batswana counterparts. Gaborone said that in Tlokweng alone there were between 3 000 to 4 000 Zimbabweans. He said they were no longer able to go to the lands or send children to schools. He said that the Botswana government and other SADC leaders needed to deal with the issue of Zimbabwe. He also appealed to non-governmental organisations to assist.

He suggested that Zimbabwean refugees could be sent to Dukwi refugee camp. He invited the speakers to visit different areas where the Zimbabweans frequent to see their plight.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP