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(TALKZIMBABWE) Minister warns US, EU and German envoys on Mugabe snub

Minister warns US, EU and German envoys on Mugabe snub
By: Reuters-TZG
Posted: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 7:03 pm

ZIMBABWE summoned ambassadors from the United States, Germany and the European Union on Tuesday to admonish them for walking out of the funeral of President Mugabe's sister, Sabina, at the Heroes' Acre on Sunday. This was after President Robert Mugabe told Western powers to go "to hell" for their sanctions.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said the envoys left a the national heroes' shrine immediately after President Mugabe's speech when protocol dictated that they should have stayed to the end of the proceedings and President Mugabe's departure.

"I had summoned the ambassadors to convey our concern and disappointment," Minister Mumbengegwi said at a news conference in Harare on Tuesday.

"Their conduct was clearly very, very disrespectful of our national shrine, Zimbabwe, its leaders, its fallen heroes and its people," he said, calling their actions "unacceptable".

U.S ambassador Charles Ray and his German counterpart Albrecht Conze told journalists they left the funeral because they felt that President Mugabe's speech was disrespectful.


"When America is treated in the manner it was treated on Sunday, I will react," Ambassador Ray said.

The United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe nearly 10 years ago after a bilateral dispute between the UK and Zimbabwe.

The British government of Tony Blair reneged on pledges made at Lancaster House in 1979 to fund the land reform programme in the new and independent Zimbabwe.

Mr Blair refused to continue with that programme and the Zanu-PF government designated white-owned farms for acquisition. Mr Blair led a campaign to have those farms returned to white settlers and to change the government of the day led by President Mugabe.

One of the methods used was the imposition of illegal sanctions, not approved by the United Nations.

On Sunday, President Mugabe accused the West of not recognising Zimbabwe as an independent state of indigenous black citizens with rights over its land and natural resources.

"We say to hell, to hell, hell with them," he said. "Sanctions must go, and they must go. They are hurting our people regardless of political affiliation."

In the blistering attack, President Mugabe said the West was using sanctions as part of a plot to impose its political will on the southern African nation.

Labels: ALBRECHT CONZE, AMBASSADOR, CHARLES RAY, NEOCOLONIALISM

posted by MrK @ 7:54 PM