Zim threatens to expel envoys
2007-03-19 18:34
Harare - Zimbabwe's foreign minister told Western diplomats on Monday they would be expelled if they gave financial or diplomatic support to government opponents.
Pressuring diplomats would make it even harder for the international community to keep tabs on a government accused of repressing its people and ruining its economy - the Zimbabwean government prevented opponents from leaving the country over the weekend and has long severely restricted the press.
Diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said US ambassador Christopher Dell, an outspoken critic of Zimbabwe's human rights record, walked out of a meeting at which the warning to diplomats was delivered after foreign minister Simearashe Mbengegwi said he would not respond to any questions.
The foreign minister, acting on instructions from President Robert Mugabe, told the Western diplomats that the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic behaviour prohibited foreign embassies from involving themselves in the internal affairs of the host nation.
He said Zimbabwe would not hesitate to use provisions allowing them to expel diplomats.
The foreign minister also said they had gone too far, accusing them of offering food and water to opposition activists jailed last week.
Government explanation "nonsense"
Opposition activists, including main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, alleged they were beaten savagely by police after their arrest at a prayer meeting.
Government opponents said on Monday that the government forced the family of an opposition militant shot dead last week by police to bury him at their rural home to avoid demonstrations at a planned ceremony in the capital.
The government insisted, however, that Gift Tandare - killed as police disbanded a prayer meeting organised by Zimbabwe's political opposition - was buried in the countryside at the family's request and that the state assisted with the funeral arrangements and expenses.
Opposition spokesperson Eliphas Mokunoweshure called the government explanation "nonsense".
Members of the opposition said the Tandare family was coerced by state intelligence agents into holding the funeral in the Mount Darwin district, northeast of Harare.
State television said most of the funeral expenses were paid by the ruling party official for Mount Darwin, Saviour Kasukuwere, a wealthy businessman. It denied Tandare's body had been seized from a funeral home.
Hundreds of mourners and democracy activists have gathered at Tandare's home in the Harare township of Glen View since his death March 11 when police crushed the prayer meeting.
On March 13 police tried to quell mourners blocking streets and beating drums around Tandare's home in the township, an opposition stronghold. Two were injured by police gunfire.
Not on travel ban list
Nelson Chamisa, an aide to the main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was admitted to hospital with suspected head fractures following being assaulted on Sunday at Harare International Airport by suspected state agents using iron bars as he was leaving to attend a meeting of African Caribbean and European parliamentarians in Brussels, Belgium, said members of the Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.
The opposition appealed on Sunday to Belgium to deny government delegates entry to the Brussels meeting.
Glenys Kinnock, chairperson of the European Union delegation to the Brussels meeting, said three lower level officials of Zimbabwe's ruling party were expected in Brussels later on Monday for the meeting.
They were not on a travel ban list of top officials drawn up to punish Zimbabwe for its human rights record, but would be allowed only to attend meeting sessions, not to enter EU parliament premises.
- SAPA