(NEWZIMBABWE) Zanu PF pounces on Miliband remarks
Zanu PF pounces on Miliband remarks
23/01/2010 00:00:00
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Unguarded ... David Miliband
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ZANU PF has demanded that the MDC calls for the removal of sanctions, seizing on tactless remarks made by British foreign secretary David Miliband that the UK government would be guided by advice from Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party on the issue.
Simon Khaya Moyo, who took over as Zanu PF national chairman in December, said the MDC could no longer claim it had no influence over the issue and “must” now call for the removal of the sanctions.
NewZimbabwe.com reported on Wednesday that Miliband had told the British House of Commons that the sanctions would only be lifted on recommendation of the MDC.
“In respect of sanctions, we have made it clear that they can be lifted only in a calibrated way, as progress is made. I do not think that it is right to say that the choice is between lifting all sanctions and lifting none at all.
“We have to calibrate our response to the progress on the ground, and, above all, to be guided by what the MDC says to us about the conditions under which it is working and leading the country,” Miliband said in response to a question by one parliamentarian.
Now Khaya Moyo has moved in for the kill.
"Britain has let the cat out of the bag on the issue of sanctions. They have admitted that the MDC called for the sanctions and it can only remove them on the request of the MDC.
"Thus Tsvangirai should go and ask for the removal of those sanctions. The declared and undeclared sanctions are affecting the country because we are not getting lines of credit and companies are being forced to close," the former Zimbabwe ambassador to South Africa said in Harare yesterday.
Zanu PF has always insisted that the sanctions were imposed at the instigation of the MDC and is demanding that the part calls for their removal.
On the other hand Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s party has all along denied any involvement, but Miliband’s unguarded remarks will now make that position difficult to sustain.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro tried to limit the damage.
"We (the MDC) don’t formulate foreign policy on any country’s behalf . . . We are saying that they should judge us by the progress that we have made so far in the commitments we have undertaken (in the GPA).
Labels: DAVID MILIBRAND, HOUSE OF COMMONS, SANCTIONS, ZDERA
posted by MrK @ 9:14 AM
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