Botswana–Zimbabwe relations

Botswana–Zimbabwe relations are bilateral foreign relations between two neighbouring landlocked Southern African nations. Both nations are members of the African Union, United Nations, Southern African Development Community and the Non-Aligned Movement. Botswana has an embassy in Harare. Zimbabwe has an embassy in Gaborone.

Botswana-Zimbabwe relations
Map indicating locations of Botswana and Zimbabwe

Botswana
Zimbabwe
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Botswana in HarareEmbassy of Zimbabwe in Gaborone

Two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1983 after protracted Zimbabwe War of Independence in which Botswana welcomed refugees but refrained from directly supporting the liberation movement due to existential concerns over encirclement by Rhodesia, South West Africa and South Africa.[1][2]

Zimbabwe is one of the main trading partners of Botswana with two countries signing the original bilateral trade agreement in 1988.[3] Botswana and Zimbabwe share some 500 kilometres long common border.[4] Large scale migration from Zimbabwe to Botswana following the economic crisis of early 2000s led to increased xenophobic violence, border control measures with Ian Khama designating Zimbabwe as an unfriendly neighbour.[5][6]

Following the 2008 Zimbabwean general election Botswana played important role in preventing escalation of hostilities between parties involved in post-election confrontations and challenges. During his visit to Zimbabwe on 1 September 2022 President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi called for the removal of western sanctions imposed on ZANU–PF officials.[7]

See also

References
  1. Le mois en Afrique, Issues 211-216. Le Mois en Afrique., 1983. p. 168.
  2. Wazha G. Morapedi (2012). "The Dilemmas of Liberation in Southern Africa: The Case of Zimbabwean Liberation Movements and Botswana, 1960–1979". Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 38 (1): 73–90. doi:10.1080/03057070.2012.649944. S2CID 145796550.
  3. "BOTSWANA AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM: THE IMPACT OF WTO AGREEMENTS, NEGOTIATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION" (PDF). United Nations. 2006. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  4. Eugene Campbell & Jonathan Crush 2012, pp. 5.
  5. Eugene Campbell & Jonathan Crush 2012, pp. 24–25.
  6. Wazha G. Morapedi (2007). "Post-Liberation Xenophobia in Southern Africa: The Case of the Influx of Undocumented Zimbabwean Immigrants into Botswana, c.1995–2004". Journal of Contemporary African Studies. 25 (2): 229–250. doi:10.1080/02589000701396330. S2CID 154361441.
  7. Evans Zininga (3 September 2022). "Botswana President Masisi Says West Should Remove Sanctions Imposed on Zanu PF Officials". Voice of America. Retrieved 12 April 2023.

Sources
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