Mogae promises to help find solutions

Botswana President Festus Mogae said on Wednesday that he would use his four-day state visit to Zimbabwe to understand the land redistribution issue that has plagued his counterpart, President Robert Mutable, the state-controlled ‘Herald’ reported. Speaking after his arrival in Harare, Mogae said Zimbabwe’s image had suffered as a result of negative press and that Botswana would explore ways of clarifying misrepresentations on the land issue. He was quoted as saying that only Zimbabweans and not outsiders, could solve their problems. Mogae’s statements came after nearly three hours of talks between him, Mugabe and their delegations of senior officials and ministers. No further details on the talks were released, but the ‘Herald’ quoted sources who attended the talks as saying that Mugabe provided his neighbours with a history of the land issue. Later the same day, addressing a state banquet hosted in his honour, Mogae said the two countries needed to solve common problems together. “With great energy and a considerable measure of optimism, we have embarked on a common journey to combat the scourges of poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and unemployment, to enhance the economic prospects of our countries and improve the quality of life of our citizens. In this way, our people are confronted by similar challenges and they share common ideals. This makes them parts of one whole,” he was quoted as saying. Mogae said Botswana placed special importance and emphasis on its relations with Zimbabwe because of the geographical, social, cultural and economic links between the two countries and peoples. Director of studies at the South African Institute for International Affairs, Elizabeth Sidiropoulos told IRIN that the two countries shared many common challenges. However, while the Botswana government had in the past expressed concern about the impact developments in Zimbabwe would have on its own country and economy, it remained to be seen whether Mogae would raise those concerns with Mugabe. Mogae spent Thursday visiting resettlement farms in Mashonaland Central and was expected to officially open the Zimbabwe International Trade fair in Bulawayo on Friday, according to news reports.