via Zimbabwe tells EU ‘no Robert without Grace’ – Times LIVE Sapa | 26 March, 2014
Zimbabwe’s government said it would boycott a summit between the European Union and African Union in Brussels next week, if President Robert Mugabe’s wife was not granted a visa to travel with him.Mugabe and his wife Grace are under an EU travel ban imposed in 2002, after a government crackdown on the opposition and the eviction of white farmers from agricultural land.The EU had waived the visa ban on Mugabe, who is the vice-chairman of the AU, saying it was not bound by the ban when hosting large international conferences.
But his wife was denied a visa, Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Joey Bimha told dpa.
“We are expecting the Southern African Development Community and the AU to ensure that she gets a travel visa.
Otherwise, the summit has to be postponed,” he said.
In addition to vice-chairing the AU, Mugabe vice-chairs the SADC, making him “very crucial for issues of Africa,” Bimha said.
EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell’Ariccia said he would comment on the matter Thursday.
The EU lifted most sanctions on Zimbabwe in February, but those against Mugabe remained in place.
COMMENTS
Who cares.
Yes! Who cares! Just more money wasted on another useless trip
Dont go and use the money to pay your workers….!
No great loss there then !!!
Yeah, can’t you just see how devastating that will be for those at the Summit if Mugabe isn’t there… no one to point and snicker at while he sleeps during the conferences.
But, Robert thinks himself a near-god… so he wales and whines and spits and sputters because he can’t tale Grace shopping to spend more of the people’s money.
I though the old Sod didn’t care about sanctions, seems he does
Fainally a wise decision after more than 30 ears in office. Robert, your country is bankrupt; you will contribute nothing; stay home. Thank you!
Well said Bill.
WHATS HER ROLE AT HIS AGE! DIS-GRACE!
So why don’t you boycott. They won’t miss you. Who wants 9 year olds at crucial meetings.Is every other leader bringing their spouse.
The EU got it right this tome.No VISA for disgrace and they don’t have to contend with mugarbage,OOPs mugabe. the writing is on the wall mugabe, for all your ranting and raving that the Wets can go hang, you still care that your wife gets invited… to visit….the west. stick to your look east policy you grovelling idiot. Hey the sanctions are biting, Hehehehehe
The beggars are still carrying on like they have some say. Poor deluded fellows.
I am sure EU will miss mugabe like they would miss the “r” from shirt!
If the AU and SADC demand that Dis Grace goes or they will all boycott this summit they will be sending a CLEAR message. This that both organizations are useless and care nothing for democracy, decency, human rights, transparency, rule of law or any other honorable human trait. Mugabe is a disgrace and should be shunned until, if ever, he demonstrates just a little care for his country, his people and any sign of leadership. He could never achieve this because he is a tyrannical dictator who slaughters his opponents. Anyone who cannot see this is dumb and blind. The EU should not have anything to do with Zimbabwe in any way, until drastic changes occur, because if they trade with Zimbabwe they are also demonstrating a total disregard for anything right or decent.
No problem who will miss the tyrant.
Dis-Grace should stay here and Cuckold Mugarbage with Gono. Maybe why he does not want to leave her behind.
Well done EU stick to your guns.
or if he does go arrest him for crimes against his people.
If the visa comes out on the 3rd of April do you know that our president will go to Belgium even after the summit. Which Zimbabwe told the EU or you are referring to the NIKUVED ZANU PF and its CIOs. I hope the EU won’t be moved by this or they just give her after the summit.
The EU did not want him to attend in the first place. So they will still get their way.
Mugarbage can’t run a country, or give input towards it’s well-being,
so what has he to say to the EU, or an summit for that matter.
As far as that greedy, land-grabbing, uncaring, disgraceful adulterer,
dis-Grace, let her burn in hell, I say, with her smelly Manolo Blahnik high heels!
“Otherwise, the summit has to be postponed” says Joey Bimha. What a joke. Zimbabwe is now nothing on the International Stage Joey. Mugabe is just irrelevant like me to the EU. This old Donkey should just Die Period.
Disgrace must have been so looking forward to shopping in Europe, as believe it or not Singapore can get boring with the same shopping every month. Europe is just interesting !! She must be driving him crazy, when her visa was refused.
Boycott ?? Who is the loser here?
Bob needs the EU more than they need him.@ the end of the day its the millions of ordinary Zimbabweans who suffer.Its so sad.