Reports that the Zimbabwean government may declare a state of emergency have been met with concern by authorities in Botswana. Minister of Commerce and Industry Tebelelo Seretse was quoted as saying in reports on Wednesday that “it indeed would not augur well and it would be unfortunate” if the state of emergency was declared in Zimbabwe. Seretse said a state of emergency would affect tourism not only in Botswana but the region as a whole. “We would have to look at the situation and see how we can protect our people who deal with Zimbabwe. We also have Batswana children who go to school in Zimbabwe,” she said. Last Friday, two Zimbabwean newspapers carried stories that the government was considering a state of emergency.
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