"We have asked some questions, because when they come here, we want to know what they expect to do, and what they expect the government of Botswana to do, what powers they'll have in this country, what assistance should we give them," he said. "Once these questions have been cleared, we shall decide whether to let them in or not.
Masire stressed that Botswana officials must be "on the same wavelength" with the Truth Commission. "If they come here, we must know what it is precisely they are coming to do here. We certainly have nothing to hide."
He denied that that the issue of allowing the Truth Commission to hold hearings in Botswana had anything to do with allegations made in South Africa's City Press newspaper on December 1 suggesting that former senior police officers in Botswana were on the payroll of the South African police during the apartheid era. "I don't think they (the Truth Commission) are coming here because there has been a story about the former police commissioner," he said, noting that his government was taking the allegations seriously.
The charge of Botswana police involvement was one "which we cannot let go giving it the due consideration it merits, but not that we believe there is anything in it."
Twelve people were killed in 1985 when South African commandos raided the capital Gaborone, targetting African National Congress (ANC) activists and refugees.