Germany summons Zimbabwean envoy over 'Nazi' remark

By Henry Makiwa
12 December 2007

The government of Germany on Tuesday summoned Zimbabwe's envoy to Berlin, after a Zimbabwean government minister called Chancellor Angela Merkel a "Nazi".

In a statement the German government said that the comments made by Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu were unacceptable. According to reports from Germany, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the Zimbabwean charge d'affaire to the ministry over the tirade against Merkel. German authorities said he had been summoned because Zimbabwe's ambassador to Germany, Cuthbert Zhakata, was not in Berlin.

It is understood that a heated meeting was held with the Zimbabwean envoy, where he was told to explain the irresponsible statements of his government.

On Monday the Herald newspaper referred to Merkel as a "Nazi remnant" and quoted Ndlovu accusing her of "racism of the first order." Mugabe’s Information Minister also called Merkel a "racist" and a "fascist" after she took Mugabe to task at the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon, Portugal for his human rights violations.
According to Germany-based Zimbabwean journalist, Itayi Mushekwe, there are strong indications that Berlin may take diplomatic action on Zimbabwe.

He said: “They regard pronouncements by Ndlovu as an unprovoked attack and we understand strong words were indeed exchanged when the authorities here met the Zimbabwean charge d'affaire. The general public also feels the same. They are well shocked that Mugabe reacted in the way he did towards a country that has been relatively more accommodative to him.”