Mugabe threatens retaliation if ambassadors sent back to Zim

By Alex Bell
19 October 2010

Robert Mugabe has threatened to retaliate if ambassadors he unilaterally appointed to the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) are sent back to Zimbabwe.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai last week told the EU and the UN that ambassadors appointed solely by Mugabe don’t speak on behalf of the whole government. Tsvangirai wrote a series of letters stating his position that appointments made unilaterally by Mugabe were “null and void,” as they were done without consultation. This included a letter to EU president Jose Manuel Baroso and letters to the UN and four countries.

Tsvangirai also told reporters earlier this month that his MDC party will refuse to recognise these appointments, including Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono, Attorney General Johannes Tomana, five judges named in May, and the six ambassadors, appointed in July. The status of 10 re-appointed provincial governors is also in dispute.

But Mugabe has now threatened that the EU will face retaliation if they heed Tsvangirai’s advice and expel the diplomats he appointed. His spokesman George Charamba on Monday told NewsDay news service that Zimbabwe would reserve the right to ‘reciprocate’ if its diplomats were thrown out of their postings.

“In diplomacy there is a principle called reciprocity,” Charamba said. “You do to the other countries what you want them to do unto you. If country A refuses to recognise ambassadors from country B then country B reserves the right to do the same.”

Charamba also used the chance to once again echo ZANU PF’s opinion on targeted sanctions still in place against Mugabe and his inner circle, saying Zimbabwe was not benefiting from the presence of Western diplomats because of the sanctions. The EU has maintained the targeted measures against the regime since 2002 because of human rights abuses and the blatant election fraud that has kept Mugabe in power.

“Our ambassadors in Europe are not engaged. Their representation is ornamental,” Charamba said.

Political analyst Professor John Makumbe told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that Mugabe’s reaction is “childish,” but said it was unlikely such a threat would turn into any real action. He said the risk the government faces of isolating itself further from the EU by creating this kind of diplomatic problem, was too much, especially given the critical need for foreign investment.

“Mugabe is acting like a small boy who is saying ‘tit for tat’,” Makumbe said. “But the diplomatic threat that this implies is too great for there to be any action.

The UN has already said that it can't expel Zimbabwe’s ambassador, but said it is urging full implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) that formed the basis for the coalition government. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq last week said Zimbabwe's Ambassador Chitsaka Chipaziwa was “properly accredited” on June 28 and the UN “will be bound by the letter of his accreditation until advised otherwise by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

But he added that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “believes that the prime minister's letter highlights a source of concern regarding the political transition in Zimbabwe.” The UN chief urged the parties to “to respect the commitments they made ... and ensure that the agreement is implemented in its entirely in the interest of stability in Zimbabwe and the welfare of its people,” Haq said.

Meanwhile, the EU is facing even more pressure not to recognise the nominated Zimbabwe ambassador, Margaret Muchada, in another letter addressed to European Commission President Barroso and his European Council counterpart Herman Van Rompuy. Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, who spearheads the European Parliament's campaign for freedom and democratic change in Zimbabwe, has urged both men to heed Tsvangirai's plea and refuse to accept Muchada's credentials on the grounds that her appointment is “unconstitutional.”

Van Orden will reportedly lead his European Conservatives and Reformists group for a parliamentary resolution on Zimbabwe, to be voted on in Strasbourg on Thursday.

He said: “Not much seems to have changed on the ground following the signing of the 'Global Political Agreement' two years ago. Mugabe still grasps the levers of power and manages to trample on the basic rights of the Zimbabwean people.”

He added: “Until Mugabe and his cronies step aside and there is real evidence of change, the EU and its member states must keep up the pressure on Mugabe. I would urge Barroso and Van Rompuy to send a clear signal to the Mugabe clique that the EU does not tolerate despots.”

“Muchada’s credentials must be refused, as her appointment is clearly unconstitutional. I would equally urge Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa and the UN to do the same,” Van Orden said.