The diplomatic row sparked by the arrest and subsequent conviction of three armed Batswana game rangers who had strayed into Zimbabwe has been resolved.

This follows a Zimbabwe-Botswana Joint Permanent Commission meeting in Victoria Falls.

Security and foreign affairs officials also met on Wednesday under the auspices of the commission.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the issue had been resolved when they gave oral evidence before a Senate Committee on Peace and Security in Harare yesterday.

Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ngoni Sengwe said the meeting was expected to find common ground and cultivate good relations between the two countries.

Senators had expressed concern at the deteriorating relations between the two countries amid allegations of Zimbabweans being flogged by Batswana traditional leaders.

The legislators also wanted to know what the Government was doing to mend relations between the countries.

Foreign Affairs Head of Policy, Research and Training Mr Sam Mhango however, said Zimbabwean nationals have not sought assistance from Zimbabwe's Embassy in Botswana.

Mr Mhango said: "Such people tend to distance themselves from their embassy.

"We are trained to be diplomats -- (we are) more polite than priests."

Meanwhile, sources attending the JPC meeting in Victoria Falls said the meetings had been successful.

"We are happy to note that the impasse that had arisen has been resolved.

He said there were more issues that the two countries were working on.

"Remember as a country, we are always crying about our citizens who are always harassed in Botswana. That is also an issue we wanted addressed.

"There are other issues of security and international relations issues, which we cannot reveal to the media, but were also on the agenda.

"This was an opportunity to bring the things to the table for discussion and consideration so that there is no bad blood between the two countries," said the official.

"That is why we are here. All we can say is we have reached a consensus."

Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, National Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Home Affairs co-Minister Giles Mutsekwa represented Zimbabwe.

Botswana was represented by Defence, Justice and Security Minister Dikgakgamatso Ndelu Seretse, its Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Gladys Kokorwe and Deputy Foreign Affairs secretary Mr Sasara George.

Zimbabwean service chiefs, National Parks and Wildlife Authority officials and immigration officers from the two countries also attended the meeting.

The Batswana rangers entered Zimbabwe using an undesignated entry point and convicted and fined US$100 when they appeared before a Hwange magistrate.

Botswana threatened to recall its military and intelligence attaches from Harare at the height of the dispute.

By The Herald