News / Africa
Zuma - Khama 'touched on' Zimbabwe's GPA issue
03 Mar 2012 at 13:35hrs | Views
Gaborone. Botswana government's spokesperson, Dr Jeff Ramsay has hinted that President Ian Khama and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma 'touched on' the issue of Botswana supporting Zuma as a mediator in Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed three years ago.
Zuma and Khama met in a closed meeting on Wednesday in Gaborone and indications are that, among other issues, Zuma had come to lobby Botswana to support him as facilitator between Zimbabwean coalition government partners and rivals, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.
Dr Ramsay told Africa Review: "When two leaders meet, generally, a lot of issues are discussed and they touched on the issue of the GPA marriage."
Only photojournalists were allowed briefly to take pictures of the two leaders during the meeting.
Although there was no official word from the meeting, Dr Ramsay admitted that there are 'unresolved issues' between the two neighbours. He was referring to the extradition of suspects facing murder in Botswana, cross-border crime, and a recent aircraft that flew into Botswana without permission. However, he said the two leaders were happy with the outcome of their meeting.
"We have a good relationship with SA; obviously there are always issues between two neighbours but relationship with SA at government level is always excellent," he said. "It's went on well â€" one could see from the smiles both before and after the meeting."
Zuma had come along with State Security Minister, Siyabonga Cwele and International Advisor, Lindiwe Zulu before proceeding to Namibia.
Zuma and Khama met in a closed meeting on Wednesday in Gaborone and indications are that, among other issues, Zuma had come to lobby Botswana to support him as facilitator between Zimbabwean coalition government partners and rivals, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.
Dr Ramsay told Africa Review: "When two leaders meet, generally, a lot of issues are discussed and they touched on the issue of the GPA marriage."
Only photojournalists were allowed briefly to take pictures of the two leaders during the meeting.
Although there was no official word from the meeting, Dr Ramsay admitted that there are 'unresolved issues' between the two neighbours. He was referring to the extradition of suspects facing murder in Botswana, cross-border crime, and a recent aircraft that flew into Botswana without permission. However, he said the two leaders were happy with the outcome of their meeting.
"We have a good relationship with SA; obviously there are always issues between two neighbours but relationship with SA at government level is always excellent," he said. "It's went on well â€" one could see from the smiles both before and after the meeting."
Zuma had come along with State Security Minister, Siyabonga Cwele and International Advisor, Lindiwe Zulu before proceeding to Namibia.
Source - citizen
