Mugabe summit boycott over wife’s visa raises uproar March 31, 2014 in NewsDay
OPPOSITION parties and civic society groups yesterday reacted angrily to President Robert Mugabe’s decision to boycott this week’s European Union/Africa summit in Brussels, Belgium, saying it was wrong for the Zanu PF leader to deny the country representation at the summit over personal issues.
Mugabe’s government on Saturday said it would not attend the summit after the hosts denied Grace Mugabe a visa to accompany her husband.
Mugabe and his wife are still under the EU travel ban imposed in 2002.
MDC Matabeleland South chairperson Pilate Ndebele said: “If you are a President, you are chosen by people to represent them and not your family or wife.
“It is 100% wrong for the President not to attend the meeting just because his wife is not invited.
“He took an oath to represent the people of Zimbabwe not his wife or family alone and boycotting the meeting because he will not be with his wife is a betrayal of the people who entrusted him with leadership.”
Political commentator Joy Mabenge said: “It’s unfortunate for Mugabe to compromise the thawing relations between Zimbabwe and EU on the basis of his spouse, Grace, being denied a visa.
“The President should put his country and people first to use the opportunity to improve trade relations between Zimbabwe and EU especially convincing investors to come and invest here.”
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo said Mugabe’s boycott was a non-event as EU member countries had good trading relations with Zimbabwe even when the travel and trade embargo was in force.
MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said : “To hold Zimbabwe to ransom simply because Grace Mugabe cannot attend the summit is the worst form of sabotage for one’s country.
“The EU did invite Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Grace Mugabe.”
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni said: “It shows that he (Mugabe) is after merry-making.
“What is the role of her being at the summit?
“Which country does she lead?”
COMMENTS
Is this really about Grace not being invited or is it more to create a distraction from the woes at home and the split by the AU?
This old fool is a liability everybody knows.Lets hope he will refuse to go to hell when the time comes because Disgrace is not 90.Very soon the devil will call
Regretably I dont think the devil will call soon, he is very worried about a take over bid!
What a confused opposition which claims that the president was not elected fairly but they now want him to represent them?Is this a new submission that he was fairly elected and you lost fairly? These weak opposition parties are quick in opposing whatever the other party does without checking what they say in public is actually making them look more stupid than before.
Less trips outside the country by any politician is good for the country because you save money.These meetings are mainly talk shows and meetings for the old friends and shopping times.
If Mugabe was voted back into power through free and fair elections then Zimbabweans are stupid. We know that Zimbabweans are not stupid but you obviously are!
ps-admission NOT submission
mixed race or mixed brains. He is the president though he is illegitimate but he is the legal president of Zimbabwe. I hope you understand what I am saying. A child maybe an illegitimate kid but legally your kid. So legally Mugabe is our president and he must attend.
I hold no brief for Mugabe but I think the EU sunk lower than him on this. She’s his wife for heavens sake, let her go with him.
Anything that helps Mugabe to understand that he is not popular is to be supported.
Couldn’t agree more JT.
Amazing…..if mugabe had gone to the summit, the opposition would have complained that he’s wasting tax payers money……this goes to show that they have no true position other than to oppose anything the president does…..ridiculous!
@maita-Is it not better to have mixed brains with good ideas than your limited straight brains which are programmed to think naively and confused and easy to brainwash by just blocking their straight path.God gave you brains to use them in unique situations not on simple straight issues all the time.
@rob-well said brainy person.
Umm we have to be objective here. The country is having a myriad of economic problems due to various factors including depressed investment. Here comes an opportunity that would or might give a life line and you turn it away simply because someone either cannot part with his wife or has to abide by certain political principles.
Maybe its me who is not seeing something clearly here, but I think in our situation we should swallow our pride and take whatever comes for the sake of our people.
You know sometimes if you are at the top up there, you cannot really figure out how life is down there.
@t rob thats a summit where he is expected to represent zimbabwe not for his medical check ups where we consider that as his own personal trips using public funds. that is the reason why you would hear us mdc complaning Rob hope you understood…stupid
@dongodarimbwe…..there are countless occasions where our president has attended similar summits, be it regional, continental or international, where the likes of u have complained that he is wasting taxpayers money on what U would often call “talkshops”. So spare me the fake intellectual posturing……sounding clever when the moment suits u doesn’t make u clever……stupid
…….and by the way, while I may have spelt your name incorrectly, for future reference; @ is not spelt with a ‘t’……..lol
He is serving his personal interests not the nation who is Grace Marufu to make the whole nation suffer because of her is unfair
And then if the hero boycott, there won’t be significant discussion and decision because the main point is absent!!