Relationship dossier
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation coexists with disputes over migration and political criticism.
Botswana toward Zimbabwe
+10Botswana joined Zimbabwe in signing a package of bilateral agreements in 2018. In 2008, Botswana’s government rejected the outcome of Zimbabwe’s presidential election and called for a fresh election, creating political friction.
Zimbabwe toward Botswana
+20Zimbabwe joined Botswana in signing a package of bilateral agreements in 2018, including arrangements for cooperation in several areas of government activity. The extent to which these agreements have been implemented is unclear.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship combines recurring practical engagement, reflected in the 2018 bilateral agreements, with friction over migration and Botswana’s response to Zimbabwe’s 2008 election. Its overall character is mixed rather than one of sustained confrontation or unusually close partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Botswana and Zimbabwe have pursued practical bilateral cooperation, including a 2018 package of agreements covering several areas of government activity. Relations have also included friction over migration and Botswana’s criticism of Zimbabwe’s 2008 election. These factors point to a mixed relationship with concrete cooperation, though the scope and implementation of bilateral arrangements are not fully clear.
Areas of tension
- Migration and border management
- Botswana’s criticism of the 2008 Zimbabwean election
Key developments
Botswana and Zimbabwe signed a package of bilateral agreements during a meeting between their governments.
Botswana rejected the outcome of Zimbabwe’s presidential election and called for a fresh election.
Major uncertainties
- The implementation and continuing scope of agreements signed in 2018 are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral cooperation on migration and border management is unclear.