She was misled

Ms Gladys Kokorwe, the Botswana ambassador to Zimbabwe said she was misled to think that that the game rangers would be released without any hassles since such incidents were common between the two countries.

“They were on duty, patrolling as usual,” she said.”They were trailing lions that were wreaking havoc in Lusona village and in the process strayed into Zimbabwe.

“A team was sent from Kasane to confirm that these were innocent officers who were on duty but they failed to secure their release.”

But Zimbabwean police who intercepted the rangers said they did not have passports and were in possession of dangerous weapons.

However, Ms Kokorwe said she had been assured the rangers would be released without charge and was shocked when she was informed they would be appearing in court.

“At first my officers spoke to the legal affairs department and they were told the officers would be released,” she said.

Released only

“In fact, they told them the officers had already been released only for us to find out later that they were still detained.

“We also engaged the Zimbabwean director of protocol but unfortunately they still have not been released.”

Attempts by Botswana Foreign Affairs Minister Pandu Skelemani to negotiate with his Zimbabwean counterpart Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi for the rangers’ release also hit a brick wall.
Mr Skelemani had said he would discuss the impasse with Mr Mumbengegwi during the just ended African Union summit in Ethiopia.