PRESIDENT
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson says United States ambassador to Zimbabwe
Brian Nichols has created a basis to “expel himself” after the envoy urged the
region to be more proactive in handling the political and economic crisis in
the country.
Mnangagwa’s
government has reacted angrily to suggestions that Zimbabwe is facing a crisis
after a vicious clampdown against dissent that followed the July 31 protests.
Nichols on
Friday told South African broadcaster enca that the Southern African Development
Community (Sadc) should help stop Zimbabwe from descending into chaos.
Mnangagwa’s
spokesperson George Charamba reacted angrily to Nichols’ statements, saying
they were undiplomatic.
“Why would you
have an ambassador accredited to Zimbabwe featuring on a station when there is
a sitting American ambassador to discuss a country hosting him in another
country?
“Does it make
diplomatic sense to you? “Actually somewhere it is a basis to expel him,”
Charamba fumed.
“You give your
letters of credence to President Mnangagwa and you go and discuss the host
country in South Africa where there is another ambassador?
“Does it make
diplomatic sense? It is very provocative actually. How does it
arise that a person, who delivers letters of credence to Zimbabwe communicates
with Zimbabwe over a foreign media, how does that happen?
“Why are you
here then? Why do we need you here at all?” Nichols had
said Sadc can play a critical role in helping Zimbabwe return to normalcy.
“The country is
facing yet another drought and food insecurity problems. “Sadc can play a vital
role in supporting that effort,” he said.
“There are a
tremendous number of challenges, let us talk about three specific areas.
“Promoting
national dialogue and an inclusive approach to dealing with the country’s very
profound challenges.
“Secondly, let
us talk about the economy. he economy
has seen over 800% inflation over the course of last year, basic incomes have
not gone up and over 60% of the people need assistance to afford the basic food
and market basket for them and the country is facing yet another drought and
food insecurity problems and all three of these things require urgent attention
and Sadc can play a vital role in support of that.”
Charamba last
week also lashed out at South African politicians from both the ruling ANC and
the opposition, who are pushing for a regional intervention in Zimbabwe.
He insisted
that Zimbabwe had no crisis to warrant any outside intervention.
South African
President Cyril Rampahosa last month despatched four envoys to Harare, but they
were blocked from meeting the opposition after they held talks with Mnangagwa.
Ramaphosa,
however, insisted last week that the envoys would return to Zimbabwe to meet
all the protagonists in the Zimbabwe crisis. Standard
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