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(ZIMBABWE GUARDIAN) Tsvangirai quizzed over Ahmadinejad boycott

Tsvangirai quizzed over Ahmadinejad boycott
By: TH-TZG
Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 8:03 am

PRIME Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was yesterday grilled by Cabinet ministers from the other two parties in the inclusive Government for boycotting Islamic Republic of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit last week.

The Iranian leader was in Zimbabwe on a two-day working visit during which he officially opened the 51st edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo last Friday.

On Thursday, MDC-T officials did not join other Government officials from Zanu-PF and MDC to welcome President Ahmadinejad and boycotted the subsequent tours of Modzone Garment Factory and Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries.

MDC-T ministers Giles Mutsekwa (Home Affairs) and Eliphas Mukonoweshuro (Public Service) were forced to attend the official signing of agreements made during the Sixth Session of the Zimbabwe-Iran Joint Commission held at State House in the evening.

Most senior MDC-T officials boycotted the ZITF official opening although mayors from the party attended.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Mr Lovemore Moyo was present, but said he was there in his official capacity and not as party chairman.

Zanu-PF and Mutambara formation MDC officials took them to task over the issue.

According to sources, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara led the questioning of PM Tsvangirai’s "grossly undiplomatic behaviour".

The PM reportedly denied that MDC-T ministers had snubbed President Ahmadinejad claiming that all his party officials in the inclusive Government were tied up elsewhere.

"The Prime Minister was asked to explain why they boycotted the visit.

"He denied that he boycotted saying he was attending to some other business without elaborating," a source said.

PM Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Mr James Maridadi, yesterday declined to comment on the matter, but implied it had been discussed in Cabinet.

"I cannot comment on that, it is a Cabinet issue," Mr Maridadi, who only a few days back claimed Cabinet had set aside Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment laws, said.

DPM Mutambara said his view as DPM and a national politician was that the boycott was unwarranted as Zimbabwe and Iran shared a lot in common.

He said MDC-T was following the United States of America’s lead in arriving at their ill-thought position on Iran.

"Zimbabwe has no fight against Iran. Zimbabwe and Iran share a lot of history and tradition.

"We are both members of the Non-Aligned Movement and we have a history of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism.

"Iran went through a revolution in 1979 and was able to build a strong industrial base based on science and technology and energy, so there is a lot to learn from Iran and there is potential for increased trade between Zimbabwe and Iran," he said.

DPM Mutambara said Iran, just like Zimbabwe, was operating under a regime of illegal Western-imposed sanctions and lessons could be drawn from their vast experience.

"As an African country, we have no business boycotting or going against other emerging markets such as Iran. The fight is between Iran and the US. We have no business participating in that fight.

"Even if we are beneficiaries of US generosity and even if we want to be friends with the US, that should not compromise our independence and sovereignty.

"We must make our decisions without what the Americans tell us," DPM Mutambara said.

He said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was a close friend of the US, but had received President Ahmadinejad soon after his visit to Zimbabwe because he made independent decisions.

"The argument that Iran is a dictatorship should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

"The US is friends with Saudi Arabia but it is not a democracy. It is friends with Kuwait but it is not a democracy.

"Hypocrisy and double standards are what define US foreign policy," he said.

Zimbabwe and Iran signed several investment deals during President Ahmadinejad’s visit. These were in areas of energy, industry, commerce and agriculture.

The Iranians have helped Zimbabwe establish a tractor manufacturing plant that is expected in the long run to service the whole Southern Africa region.

Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, TRACTORISATION

posted by MrK @ 5:02 PM