When addressing a press conference last week, Mr Skelemani said the Zimbabwean media articles especially those carried by the Herald newspaper, were far from being true.
The minister said the Zimbabwean government had accused Botswana on a host of issues such as training Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters, issuing passports and work permits, Botswana television being hostile towards the country and advocating for regime change and harbouring The Voice of America radio station to report negatively on Zimbabwe.
Mr Skelemani said Botswana has been diplomatic with Zimbabwe despite the allegations put forward against the country and had approached the troika, an organ within SADC to facilitate a meeting between the two countries.
According to Mr Skelemani, an assessment team appointed by SADC carried out some investigations in both Zimbabwe and Botswana and dismissed as unfounded allegations that there was training of MDC supporters by the Botswana Defence Force.
He also dismissed allegations that Botswana issued passports and work permits to some Zimbabweans.
On other issues, the minister concurred that Botswana wanted free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
Mr Skelemani said Botswana did not want regime change but fresh elections and if the MDC or ZANU PF would be voted into power through free and fair elections, Botswana will not have objections and will respect the will of the people.
He indicated that Studio 7, known as the Voice of America has been in existence in Botswana for years and the government of Zimbabwe supported it then.
He said the Botswana government has been trying to lobby for bilateral talks between the two countries but the Zimbabwean government is resisting.
He added that Botswana intended to approach the troika once again with a view to facilitate bilateral diplomatic talks between the two countries failing which Botswana will approach the African Union to seek their intervention on the matter. BOPA
