Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T ministers' behaviour appalling

MDC-T ministers' behaviour appalling
Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:20:00 +0000

DEAR EDITOR - I read an article in the Herald newspaper entitled "MDC-T snubs summit delegates". I have to register my disappointment and shame at the behaviour of MDC-T ministers prior to the Comesa meeting.

Apparently the MDC-T Cabinet ministers were absent at the Victoria Falls Airport when visiting Heads of State and Government and their delegations from the Comesa region were arriving.

According to the Herald report the "MDC-T ministers had been assigned to accompany visiting delegations from the airport to their hotels in the resort town ahead of the official opening of the 13th Comesa Summit yesterday" in line with official diplomatic protocol.

However, it was reported that "none of the ministers turned up and a potentially embarrassing situation was only averted after other ministers who went to the airport of their own volition were hastily asked to fill in the gaps."

An official from the Protocol department reported: "Several ministers from all political parties were told that they would be attached to specific delegations and they would accompany these to their hotels after they were welcomed into the country by Vice President (Joice) Mujuru.

"We had a mini-crisis when it was discovered that none of the honourable men and women from MDC-T were in attendance to carry out this important State function.

"In the end we had to ask other ministers who were at the airport to do the duties of their friends who were absent."

"Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe also appeared to be shying away from delegates who flew in for the Comesa summit," reported the Herald.

"At a reception held for delegates at the Boma restaurant, DPM Khupe was seen sitting away from the delegates.

"When asked by Government officials to join the delegates, she reportedly replied that she was in Victoria Falls on "private business". She only moved after senior State officials implored her to do so.

I have to say I am embarassed by the actions of these ministers who do not seem to understand their role in the new inclusive Government.

This seems like a well-planned move by the MDC-T Cabinet ministers. Surely this could not have been a coincidence.

The MDC-T party fails to realise that even if there was an MDC-only-ruled Zimbabwe, they would still need these regional trading partners and Comesa will still exist.

Many of these individuals in Cabinet today are the same ones who were criticizing Sadc leaders before the formation of the inclusive Government, but are now running to them seeking aid.

These are the same individuals who are hoping to get diplomatic posts in the near future when they violate simple protocol.

I am surprised, or maybe not, that the embarassing behaviour we saw sometime ago in Parliament is still very much alive in the MDC-T party after the formation of the inclusive Government.

I have to say that these leaders need to shape up or ship out. The MDC-T party needs to set up its own protocol department to whip these people into line.


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Peter Chimutsa writes from London. He can be contacted via: peterchimutsa@yahoo.com

Labels: MDC, MINISTERS, THOKOZANE KHUPE

posted by MrK @ 3:09 PM