Khama offers solidarity support to Zanu-PF, seek to mend relations

BULAWAYO ' Botswana President Ian Khama could be working on normalising relations with president Robert Mugabe after he sent a delegation from his party  to "offer solidarity support" to Zanu PF at the just ended annual conference.

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.

Relations between Botswana and Zimbabwe have been sour due to Khama's outspoken criticism of Mugabe.

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.

There are reports that Mugabe once warned Khama that Zimbabwe will flood the diamonds market and the two countries return to farming. Botswana's economy relies on diamonds and if Zimbabwe floods the diamond market, the Botswana economy will suffer massive damages.

Observers said it was an indication that Khama wants to normalise relations with his Zimbabwean counterpart to avoid confrontation that might lead to Zimbabwe compromising the diamond market.