Diplomatic relations between Japan and Botswana have deteriorated despite millions of Pula spent by Botswana last year in an attempt to court the Asian giant.
Sunday Standard can reveal that Japan has filed a complaint with Botswana through their office in South Africa against the Botswana Ambassador in Tokyo, Oscar Motswagae, and Japan recently called off a planned visit by crown prince Naruhito to Botswana.
The situation has not been helped by the shoddy treatment a Japanese visiting delegation received in Botswana last year. The alleged shoddy treatment of the Japanese delegation by the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) has branched off into a clash between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NACA.
In an attempt to get to the bottom of the fiasco, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation dispatched a savingram to Motswagae which read: “Please find herewith copy of a self explanatory communication from the Coordinator of NACA, explaining the circumstances of the alleged mishandling by NACA of the visiting Parliamentary delegation on 21 July 2006. I would be grateful for your comment on same at your very earliest.”
The savingram was not copied to the other addresses in Molomo’s letter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international cooperation wanted Motswagae to add his voice to the renounciation of NACA.
President Festus Mogae last year led a delegation of ministers, senior government officials, captains of industry and cultural leaders for the Botswana week in Japan where the country tried to lure Japanese investors and tourists.
