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Misanet.com / Botswana Gazette, 14 April - Reports that the Zimbabwean government may declare a state of emergency have been met with concern by authorities in Botswana. Last Friday, two Zimbabwean newspapers carried stories that the government may declare a state of emergency if calls for sanctions against the country succeed in Europe and the United States of America. Though the Botswana Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ms Tebelelo Seretse, emphasised that she would not want to be seen to be prematurely commenting on this issue as the government would have to deal with the situation as it arose, she nevertheless said 'it indeed would not augur well and it would be unfortunate' if the state of emergency was declared in Zimbabwe. She disclosed that President Festus Mogae is due for a state visit to that country soon to open the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. Ms 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. Former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for Mmadinare, Mr Ponatshego Kedikilwe expressed a similar opinion. "The point at issue is that the spirit is regional integration, meaning we ultimately are considered an economic, social and political entity. It therefore follows that if any part of that entity limps or is hurt, the rest of the organs cannot but feel the pinch in that we are a region which also means that various aspects like tourism, services and others will be affected," he said. The misfortune in the world, he said, is that if anything is reported unpleasantly, it reflects on the whole of Africa. "This will also affect the creation of a climate that is conducive to all the things that we want to develop, for instance, attracting investors, economic development, attracting tourists, etc." The head of the Early warning programme at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, Richard Cornwell said if invoked the state of emergency would give President Robert Mugabe even greater powers. Cornwell said the escalation of the sense of crisis will persuade more people to move out of the country and therefore the current stream of people out of that country will continue. "The state of emergency will have dire consequences for the region. It will increase economic refugees and make it that much difficult for the region to achieve economic growth as Zimbabwe is traditionally both a supplier and a consumer of manufactured goods in the region. It will cease to be an international trader," he said. The Hotel and Tourism Association of Botswana, HATAB says it had already started isolating Zimbabwe and that a state of emergency would simply exacerbate this. "We are already affected very much by the situation in Zimbabwe. That is why we have gone to the regional tourism body, RETOSA to ask that there be a special publicity campaign for Botswana to boost us. We want to hold some workshops in Europe and America so we can sell Botswana as a safe and stable destination," said HATAB's Director Mr Modisagape Mothoagae. On 5 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Zimbabwe, Dr Stan Mudenge, reportedly told the country's parliament that if the state of emergency was declared, the rule by decree would become the norm and Parliament and the constitution would be rendered ineffective. Reports further say the USA senate is currently studying a Bill that, if passed, would place Zimbabwe under sanctions. The European Union has also hinted that it might consider imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe which is facing its worst economic and unemployment crisis since independence 21 years ago. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr Ernest Mpofu said he could not comment because his Ministry had not yet heard anything pertaining to a state of emergency in Zimbabwe. The same was said by Mr Molosiwa Selepeng, the Permanent Secretary to the President.
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