Breathtaking shamelessness — Britain’s Lord Oates lampoons Zimbabwe’s Information secretary for congratulating Botswana’s opposition for winning elections

LORD Jonathan Oates, a member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords has blasted government spokesperson, Ndabaningi Mangwana, for shamelessly congratulating Botswana’s opposition for winning elections when Zanu PF failed to do so after allegedly losing in previous polls.

Mangwana had congratulated Botswana’s Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party for unseating the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which had been in power for 58 consecutive years.

Oates, who described Mangwana’s post on X as ‘breathtaking shamelessness’ made reference to the bloody 2008 elections when then President Robert Mugabe was annihilated by late democracy icon Morgan Tsvangirai but refused to vacate State House with support from his successor Emmerson Mnangagwa and the military.

“Breathtaking shamelessness from Mangwana. If Zanu PF had conceded defeat in 2008, an election its own President, Mugabe, later admitted he lost, Zimbabwe would have a much brighter future. Zanu PF might even have subsequently won back power democratically,” said Oates, who was previously the liberal democrats’ director of policy and communications.

“Instead, they bludgeoned and beat their way to hanging on to power and have been fixing elections and locking up opponents ever since. Meanwhile Mangwana and the rest of the Zanu PF elite have enriched themselves at the expense of the poverty of everyone else.

“Perhaps Mangwana should make a trip to Botswana and learn how a free and fair election is won and how a true leader responds to democratic defeat,” added the former chief of staff to ex-UK deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg.

The military, Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), police, National Youth Service and Zanu PF party youths were organised into marauding terror units after Mugabe’s 2008 electoral loss which would have seen the party handing over power to opposition MDC.

Hundreds of mainly opposition supporters were maimed and killed in a campaign dubbed ‘wavhotera papi’ (who did you vote for) that preceded a runoff, which Tsvangirai eventually pulled out of.

Mugabe later confirmed his loss twice, first while addressing delegates at Zanu PF’s 11th People’s Conference in Mutare in 2010 then in 2014 while addressing service chiefs and war veterans at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

In the first instance, Mugabe blamed factionalism within Zanu PF for having cost him while in the second instance he was said to have made a mistake of saying Tsvangirai had won by 73% not the 47% published by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent a congratulatory message to Botswana’s president-elect.

“On behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and on my own behalf, I wish to extend to you my most sincere congratulations on your election as the next President Elect of the Republic of Botswana,” President Mnangagwa said.

The octogenarian, who recently declined manoeuvres for a third term beyond 2028 when his second and final term expires, said he was eager to continue implementing bilateral cooperation agreements with the new leadership in Botswana.

“As you assume your new role, I am confident that the excellent relations between our two countries will continue to grow from strength-to-strength in the years ahead, for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.

“I also affirm my commitment to working very closely with you at regional, continental and multilateral fora, in pursuit of a just global political and economic order.

“Please accept, Your Excellency President-Elect, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane officially declared Boko the victor Friday.

“I have the honour and privilege to declare him as elected President of Botswana. I congratulate you profoundly for the confidence that the people have shown in you,” said Chief Justice Rannowane.

Boko becomes Botswana’s sixth president and the first from the opposition UDC party.