Botswana President Ian Khama usually critical of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday surprised many by urging Western nations to lift targeted sanctions on Mugabe’s regime.
Khama argued that a removal of these measures would be a way to recognise progress made by the unity government in Harare.
“As easily as they can be imposed, sanctions can be removed, and I believe this should be done as a demonstration of goodwill with Zimbabwe,” he told reporters.
“The Zimbabwe graph has shown some upward movement economically and politically,” he said. “To help that process we need to demonstrate good faith and remove the sanctions,” he said.
After Mugabe lost elections in 2008, Botswana asked the African Union not to recognise him as president. Khama supported punitive measures against Mugabe, accusing him of stealing elections and perpetrating human rights violations.
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