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from countries like Botswana and that history continues to bind relations between Harare and Gaborone, President Mugabe has said. Speaking after paying his condolences to Botswana’s former president, Sir Ketumile Masire who lost his wife, Mrs Olebile Gladys Masire on May 18, the President said Zimbabwe and Botswana assisted Namibia and South Africa to attain their independence.

The countries also played an important role in brokering peace between Frelimo and Renamo in Mozambique.
President Mugabe — who was accompanied by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and senior Government officials — told journalists in Kanye Village, the rural home of Botswana’s second president, that although he could not attend the funeral due to work commitments, he saw it necessary to express his condolences in person.

The President first signed a book of condolences and later laid a wreath on the former First Lady’s grave.
“I have undertaken the visit, both on behalf of my family and also representing the people of Zimbabwe because Mai Masire was the First Lady of Botswana for a long time.

“My brother here was the President of Botswana and during that time, as President to President and as First Lady to First Lady, the governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe, we built that amity between us, the closeness between us which perhaps we don’t always get as people.

“We became brothers and sisters. We made our contribution to the region together and let it be known that that relationship occurred even before the independence of Namibia and the political dispensation of South Africa.

“So we had to assist these two countries. We even assisted in Mozambique, President Masire and me as chairman of the Organ on Politics, as we tried to get Frelimo and Renamo led by Dhlakama together. This happened over a period, but the main meeting was in November 1992 when finally there was an agreement between the two sides,” he said.

“So when we heard of the passing of Mai Masire, we said to ourselves, our good lady, our beloved lady is gone.
“So we had to express our condolences not only in words, but to come to Botswana and meet former president Masire and his family to express our condolences and deep sorrow.

“Our independence could not have come without assistance from countries such as Botswana. Some of our young men died here. Some passed through here. We don’t forget that contribution and that binds us.”

Before proceeding to Khanye Village, President Mugabe had lunch with Botswana President Ian Khama in Gaborone.
Mrs Masire died at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sir Masire led Botswana from 1980 to 1998 and was succeeded by president Festus Mogae.

President Mugabe and his delegation returned home last night and were welcomed at Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, several ministers and service chiefs.