Mnangagwa booed in Botswana

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa faced a humiliating moment today during the inauguration ceremony of Botswana’s newly elected President Gideon Boko.

As Mnangagwa’s name was announced to the crowd at the newly built national stadium, attendees erupted in boos, expressing public disapproval in an unexpected display of discontent.

The incident unfolded before a large audience comprising dignitaries, regional leaders, and thousands of Batswana citizens celebrating the historic swearing-in of Boko, who ended the long-standing rule of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

The crowd’s reaction seemed to underscore growing regional frustrations with Mnangagwa’s leadership and his administration’s policies.

The boos come amid escalating controversy surrounding allegations by Botswana’s former president Ian Khama, who recently claimed that Mnangagwa attempted to interfere in Botswana’s just-ended elections.

According to Khama, Mnangagwa allegedly sought to influence the outcome by deploying “fake voters” from Zimbabwe to bolster support for the incumbent BDP. Mnangagwa’s party, ZANU-PF, has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless and inflammatory.

ZANU-PF issued a statement earlier this week accusing Khama of peddling falsehoods and attempting to tarnish Mnangagwa’s image. “These claims are not only false but also malicious. Zimbabwe respects the sovereignty of Botswana and did not interfere in any way,” the statement read. However, the denial appears to have done little to ease tensions in the region.

Today’s public outcry against Mnangagwa highlights growing regional dissatisfaction with his administration, particularly as Zimbabwe faces ongoing economic and political challenges. For many in the crowd, the inauguration of Gideon Boko represented a symbolic moment of hope and change, while Mnangagwa’s presence evoked memories of contested elections and accusations of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the following were excerpts from Zimbabwe’s most popular national leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s Interview with BTV:

Qn: How important was it for you to be invited here to the event, Mr. Chamisa?

@nelsonchamisa:
“I’m so excited to be here. I’m representing the people of Zimbabwe, their aspirations, their hopes for democracy, and their hopes for freedom. Botswana has done something significant for the continent, for a new Africa, and for the region. This event marks an era of transformation, of effective transitions. Botswana has been under the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) for almost 58 years, yet they’ve shown a peaceful transition from one political party to another. It’s a crucial lesson. In Zimbabwe, we’ve defeated ZANU-PF in elections twice, but they’ve refused to accept the outcome. So, I hope that Mr. Mnangagwa, who is sitting just two rows away from me, will learn a thing or two about life after politics, about transitioning from public office. That’s why this event is so important. God has blessed Africa, and God has blessed Botswana. We are here to celebrate that.”

Qn: Let’s talk about democracy, especially in Africa. How important is it that Botswana has been able to have such a peaceful transition from one party to another?

Qn: What lessons can Africa and the region learn from this?

@nelsonchamisa:
“We are one people, one nation, one family. Democracy is about taking turns—your turn today, someone else’s turn tomorrow. We must not be vindictive or seek revenge. Former presidents must be honored and respected, not pursued in a cat-and-mouse game. Even if they made mistakes, there should still be honor. This is what holds us together as a family. We are one village, and President Boko emphasized this point—hands wash each other. We are one people.”

Qn: Lastly, Mr. Chamisa, what message did you take from President Boko’s speech? Although it was short, it was very precise. What lessons did you learn from it?

@nelsonchamisa:
“Love is everywhere, and we must embrace it. Botswana has shown love, and President Boko spoke about building bridges. He called for embracing the past, acknowledging it, but moving forward to correct it. That’s a critical message, a statesman’s message. President Boko is a leader of a new Africa, a new SADC, and signals a new order. We are proud of him.”

Qn: Have you met President Boko before?

@nelsonchamisa:
“We’ve met several times, in both setbacks and victories. We believe that Africa needs new leadership with a fresh mindset. We must build our continent and make Africa one of the best in the world. We can do this, and it’s something we must start now.”

Qn: Thank you, Mr. Chamisa. It was a pleasure talking to you.

@nelsonchamisa:
“Thank you so much.”

Qn: We wish you all the best in your endeavors in Zimbabwe.

@nelsonchamisa:
“Thank you. All the best to Botswana. God bless Botswana, and may peace and prosperity prevail here.”

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