In one of the major successes of the Second Republic’s
engagement and re-engagement pillar foreign policy drive, President Mnangagwa
was formally invited to witness the coronation of King Charles III at a
ceremony that will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
This re-engagement drive is part of a battery of policies
that the Second Republic is implementing to ensure Zimbabwe achieves its vision
to become an upper-middle-class economy by 2030 through increased investment.
Addressing members of the Zanu PF Youth League at the party
headquarters in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is making
headway through its engagement and re-engagement policy.
“Tomorrow I will be going to King Charles’ coronation. So I
asked why when they have put sanctions on us and they (UK Government) said we
have removed them please attend.”
The President will be among leaders from across Africa and
the world for the coronation that will be attended by 2 000 people at
Westminster Abbey (Anglican church in central London).
Defying the negative tag wrought by Western-imposed
sanctions, ironically at the instigation of Britain, President Mnangagwa has
made a breakthrough in diplomatic relations with the formerly hostile Western
capitals.
Diplomat and Zanu PF spokesperson Ambassador Chris
Mutsvangwa yesterday said the invitation shows Zimbabwe’s return to the comity
of nations.
“The coronation visit by President Mnangagwa is yet another
feather in the hat of wholesome acceptability as we shed off the skin of pariah
status. We heartily welcome our return to the global diplomatic stage with all
the attendant pomp and circumstance. We are happy that the wise policies of
engagement and re-engagement, friend to all and enemy to none are giving issue
to enjoyable bonhomie with all nations and their peoples,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa dismissed attempts by some hired
hands to demonstrate against the visit by President Mnangagwa.
“President Mnangagwa is going to the coronation of King
Charles, the new British Royalty that has a special history with the
independent and sovereign Zimbabwe. Forty-three years ago, the then Prince
Charles lowered the Union Jack at Rufaro Stadium as we raised the victorious
Zimbabwe flag.
“It is an act of shame for Zimbabwean foreigners in the UK
to attempt to take part in vain and frivolous and self-centred shenanigans. For
the record, HE President Mnangagwa is visiting as an invited guest of His
Majesty’s Government. It’s definitely not at the volition of the Government of
Zimbabwe. Basic good manners demand that
you do not embarrass your host refugee nation as it extends its courtesies to
who and whomever it wishes to engage with. Shame and scorn to those who abuse
this basic tenet of human etiquette,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
In an interview, academic and Government critic, Dr
Alexander Rusero, said the invitation of the President to the UK is the
crowning moment for the Second Republic’s re-engagement efforts.
“The invite attests to the efficacy of Zimbabwe’s foreign
policy under President Mnangagwa. Whereas Zim-Anglo relations have been
characterised by frostiness since 1997 when the Tony Blair-led government came
to power, the diplomatic iceberg is slowly thawing and shifting towards
cordiality of the erstwhile glory days. You can’t pretend something is not
happening. Thus, broadly speaking, Zimbabwe’s diplomatic charm is bearing
fruit,” said Dr Rusero.
Another analyst Mr Regai Cheuka said the invitation extended
to President Mnangagwa by Britain is evidence enough that Zimbabwe’s
re-engagement policy has reached fruition.
“An expose and ex-ante analysis of the Second Republic’s
foreign policy mantra of Zimbabwe is open for business is also showing that the
international community is now ready to re-engage Zimbabwe,” he said.
Apart from the new diplomatic frontiers that are being
opened under the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa through
re-engagement, the country has also opened new embassies, notably in Rwanda,
Turkey and Belarus. All these have been reciprocated with vast economic
opportunities for Zimbabwe.
Political analyst, Mr Gibson Nyikadzino, said President
Mnangagwa has proved to be a reformist leader who is not stuck in the past.
“Zimbabwe’s foreign policy thrust under President Mnangagwa
has moved towards a common-purpose interaction from the belligerent,
acrimonious, and turbulent policy shifts by the previous administration that
bordered on diplomatic hostility. In that transition, Zimbabwe has been to
Commonwealth (a British-led bloc) meetings and attended the US-Africa Summit
meeting last December,” he said.
“The Commonwealth has indicated Zimbabwe is making strides
to be considered for readmission. The new policy is ameliorating the decades-old
Zim-Britain rivalry that has been known, thus the extension of the invitation.
Zimbabwe is historically, politically and economically connected to some
aspects of the British system. So, this transformation and relationship is a
signal of what will ultimately become of Zimbabwe-Britain relations. It is a
move towards an amicable friendship and restoration of relations”. Herald
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