The Botswana government has denied allegations that President Duma Boko received gifts from his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa as “deliberate propaganda” aimed at damaging relations between the two countries.
The Office of the President in Botswana denied in a statement on Tuesday that Boko received cattle or similar gifts from Mnangagwa during the latter’s visit to the country last week.
The release stated that Boko has never been involved in cattle rearing or any other agricultural activity.
The presidency described the allegations as “baseless” and part of “deliberate propaganda aimed at misleading the public, undermining the essential work of the administration and tarnishing the strong diplomatic relations between Botswana and Zimbabwe.”
It called on the public to reject these allegations with the contempt they deserve.
It also called on the leadership of the Botswana Publishers’ Forum to protect the public from these “mischievous elements masquerading as journalists while carrying out disinformation campaigns.”
The statement seen by APA noted that relations between Presidents Boko and Mnangagwa remained focused on strengthening cooperation and mutual development between the two countries.
AC/lb/jn/APA