HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday briefed Botswana President Ian Khama about political developments in Zimbabwe’s troubled inclusive government and urged him to support economic recovery.

Tsvangirai, who is on a two-day working visit, met Khama in Gaborone and updated him on the just-concluded Second All-Stakeholders’ Constitutional Conference and said Zimbabwe was moving to implement other key reforms ahead of crucial polls scheduled for next year.

The PM later held bilateral talks with Botswana Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe.

Tsvangirai urged the speedy conclusion of the $70 million credit facility from the Botswana administration to revive Zimbabwe industries.

The PM, accompanied by a high-powered Zimbabwean delegation, later toured  Jwaneng diamond mine — the richest diamond mine in the world located in south-central Botswana about 120 kilometres west of Gaborone.

“The PM praised Botswana for having a credible and transparent diamonds story where the nation benefits,” Luke Tamborinyoka, the PM’s spokesperson said.

“He said Botswana was an epic example showing that diamonds can be a blessing not a curse.”

Zimbabwe, like neighbouring Botswana, has vast diamond deposits in Chiadzwa fields regarded as the world’s biggest diamond find in more than a century.

However, production from Marange is controversial due to the murky transactions and government crackdowns on illegal miners and allegations of forced labour.

Rights groups claim Marange diamonds have been fuelling violence and human rights violations in Zimbabwe.