via Legislators fume over Grace’s visa snub – DailyNews Live by Chengetai Zvauya 26 MARCH 2014
Zanu PF MPs yesterday objected to the European Union (EU)’s decision to deny First Lady Grace Mugabe a visa to attend the EU – Africa summit in Belgium next week.
The legislators registered their protest during a hearing of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Enoch Porusingazi that was receiving oral evidence from Joey Bimha, permanent secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lawmakers asked Bimha to take up the matter with Sadc and other African leaders.
The EU-Africa summit is set for Belgium from April 2-3.
“This committee finds it very strange that our First Lady Grace Mugabe is being denied a visa to attend EU-Africa summit next week. We want to express our concern on that issue and we are in solidarity with her and can our government act on that matter?” Porusingazi said.
Bimha said his ministry had taken up the matter with the African Union (AU) and EU leaders.
“We know that there is a committee which is now handling the matter and has been dispatched to Belgium from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia,” Bimha said.
“The African leaders support President Mugabe, that he should be allowed to choose his own delegation for the summit, so we are going to wait to hear from them.
“We would want the summit to be postponed if we are being dictated to over who must attend or who must not.”
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, has said only those with a role to play in the meetings had been invited.
“We have invited those with a role to play in the meetings and the programmes of the meetings do not have any role for spouses,” he said.
“Since she is under restrictive measures the host country (Belgium) has to seek a greenlight from the EU for her to attend. The EU has to reach a consensus but in this case that has not happened.”
But legislators said Mugabe had the right to pick his delegation to the summit. Earlier, African leaders had threatened to boycott the summit after the EU had overlooked Mugabe in the invites.
“The issue was dealt with by African leaders at a summit in Ethiopia where it was agreed that every African leader should be allowed to attend the summit, and Mugabe was to be on the list,” Bimha said.
“We submitted our list of delegations with our names and passports to EU to have visas and they are now denying the First Lady her visa, which is wrong. We have decided to take up the matter further and we are now waiting for the outcome of the meeting in Brussels of our appeal.”
Bimha said EU had decided to invite Egypt which is facing sanctions from the AU, leaving out other countries such as
Sudan, Eritrea and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic which are recognised by the AU.
COMMENTS
This is a very important issue for them, to have this girl go on a shopping expedition. This is a parliament of fools. So the MDC MPs were also in for it. I give up.
Are these MPs mentally deranged?only Bob is invited cz he has overt business wth the summit.instead of addressing the biting economic crisis mopengera kuti anyimirwei visa rekuBelgium? Zanu PF makundikana.munonyadzisa.ko kuSingapore haana kuenda wani?
Absolutely, Mister Roving, they should get over themselves. The entire world, sans North Korea, sees Mugabe for what he really is… not what they try to present.
Mugage must go to Europe to shoot off his insulting mouth to them, and then behind the scenes rattle his begging bowl. This is symptomatic of a ‘world-leader’ with an IQ of less than 90.
HER INPUT! PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL!
Brussels does not want another shop lifter plying her trade whilst her beloved and much revered geriatric husband sleeps during the conference. A circus with plenty of clowns!
He needs her to change his nappy
Sound naughty but for sure such an old man needs far more care from a spouse than a youngman. EU is abusing the elderly just as we did on July 31 thanks to Nikuvu.
Care from a spouse, he needs care from a psychiatric physician and an Egyptian embalmer!
Funny how they want to plead to SADC when it suits them, but denies citizens of Zimbabwe the right to plead to SADC saying that SADC isn’t properly formed. Maybe the EU is hoping that Bob will decide NOT to go to Brussels!!!
What’s the First Lady’s input – esp when Zim is that broke?
D is-Grace can give very important input indeed, as Hospitality, dining, fashion and shopping Consultant Extraordinaire, to the Commander in Sleep, the tongue-flicking, Head Nyoka ,of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
She must make sure the Gucci’s are authentic, the Givenchy’s are genuine and the Chanel’s are not Chinese knock-offs.
Beside that vital Government work, what about the choice of 5 Star Hotel for them and the 80 person entourage, maybe George V1. An entire floor for security purposes!
Menu creation for dinner at La Cirque and the all important retinue of Cadillac’s to the meeting, or maybe Mercedes. She is a well of experience and undeniably a ZimAsset!
!viva la dis-Grace, may she find those elusive Manolo Blahnik sling-backs FOR HER OVER-SIZED, FLAT FEET!
So the summit must be postponed or even cancelled because Disgrace has been denied ‘her visa’? What her visa? She never had one – so there is no way she has been denied ‘her visa’. And the rest of Africa’s ‘leaders’ (read ‘mugabe’s running dogs’) are prepared to do the bidding for Disgrace? What a disgrace!!!!!!!!!
If Bob has a right to deny foreign journalists their visas, so do those countries have a right to deny entry to people Bob wants. Africa demands a right to choose their own delegations, but it’s not your home you’re going to. The Belgians and Europeans have a right to choose who they let into their countries.
Let’s see if Africa as a continent refuse to attend this and other summits because of a whore (excuse the French, but Sally understands).
We are going to beg and bootlick, but we want to sound like kings.
Iwe Bob, kana zvakuvava, just quit. We’ll all rally behind you. Or, when they tell you the Queen is desperate to visit your majestic monarchy, munyimewo visa.
Will African people support such leadership? Putting their duties at risk because of shopping trips.
These fools are really foolish do you think the summit wont go ahead because Mugabe is not in attendance and also that the SADC and AU will boycott the summit because somebody’s wife has been denied a Visa.