Khama, who has openly clashed with Mugabe in the past, sent a delegation from his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to attend the Zanu PF conference. BDP secretary-general Thabo Fanu Masalila heaped praise on Mugabe urging Zanu PF members to back the ageing leader.
“You should consider yourselves blessed to have leadership that has such wisdom,” he said. On the controversial indigenisation and empowerment drive being spearheaded by Zanu PF, Masalila said the stance taken by Zimbabwe should be emulated by other countries on the continent.
“It is important to reflect on how indigenisation can help to propel us forward. As Africans, our greatest resource is our land. This is one commodity that we have to guard,” said Masalila.
Observers said it was an indication that Khama, who faces accusations of dictatorial rule in his country, wants to normalise relations with his Zimbabwean counterpart.
Relations between Botswana and Zimbabwe have been sour due to Khama’s outspoken criticism of Mugabe. Khama was once quoted by the whistleblower website, WikiLeaks, poking fun on Mugabe telling Western diplomats that during a Sadc summit “Mugabe started dozing off as the hours passed, head nodding and eyes half-closed”, but was always able to respond at the right moments.
Botswana was the only Southern African Development Community Development (Sadc) country that asked the regional body to confront Mugabe head-on by completely isolating him by closing their borders.
But Khama made the first move to normalise relations with Mugabe last October when he appeared in South Africa with President Jacob Zuma and called for the lifting of sanctions.
