On Friday morning, President Emmerson Mnangagwa departed for Gaborone, Botswana, to attend the inauguration of President-elect Duma Boko, following his victory in the country’s October 30 elections. Mnangagwa, accompanied by a delegation including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and various senior government officials, was seen off at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Also attending the event is Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), who has contested Mnangagwa in both the 2018 and 2023 presidential elections.
Chamisa confirmed his attendance via social media, expressing his hope for a brighter future for Zimbabwe while highlighting his participation in the inauguration of Botswana’s new government.
“I’m in Botswana for the inauguration of the new President and a new government. God is faithful, and Zimbabwe’s time to smile and celebrate is coming,” he posted.
As Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Zimbabwe’s sitting head of state, Mnangagwa’s attendance at the inauguration was expected. However, the invitation extended to Chamisa, who has been the president’s main political rival, raises questions. Invitations to opposition leaders to such high-profile events are not common within the SADC region, making this gesture noteworthy.
Chamisa’s inclusion follows a similar invitation to his participation in the inauguration of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema earlier this year. Hichilema, seen as sympathetic to opposition politics, shares a growing diplomatic rapport with Chamisa, signaling evolving regional ties.
The Botswana election saw Duma Boko, leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), defeat the long-standing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had been in power for 58 years. To mark the event, the Botswana government has declared November 8 a national paid public holiday, with November 7 being a half-day holiday. Government spokesperson Montlenyane Baaitse confirmed the arrangements for the holiday.
This inauguration marks a historic shift in Botswana’s political landscape, with hopes for a new era under Boko’s leadership. The attendance of both Mnangagwa and Chamisa underscores the regional political dynamics and the growing ties between leaders of differing political backgrounds in Southern Africa.
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