via Speaker of Parliament denied US visa – Nehanda Radio | Nehanda Radio May 9 2015
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has revealed that he was denied a visa to attend an international meeting of the world’s speakers of parliament two weeks ago in the United States.
In the presence of the European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mudenda who was speaking at the launch of parliament’s institutional strategic plan (2014 to 2018) said his request for a travel visa to the US was turned down two weeks ago.
The Speaker of the National Assembly said while appreciating the support by development partners such as the EU, the United Nations Development Programme and the Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust, the denial of the visa to attend the programme of all speakers around the world in New York is evidence that sanctions are still in place against Zimbabwe.
The EU and US imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 after accusing President Robert Mugabe’s regime of brutally cracking down on his opponents.
Since imposing the sanctions over electoral fraud and human rights abuses, the EU has eased measures to encourage political reform in Zimbabwe, although it has kept its ban on Mugabe and his wife Grace, as well as an arms embargo.
Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980 and has frequently clashed with the West. EU states were divided in their response when Mugabe won a fifth term in a 2013 election that was endorsed as free by African observers but denounced as fraudulent by the opposition.
COMMENTS
Stew in your juices.
Good!
He has no business to be in the USA. If he wants a break which he does not deserve for doing nothing worthwhile suggest he goes to Kariba get drowned there or go to Great Zimbabwe and get lost in history.
Well done USA. Please keep it up. The sanctions are not against Zim, only certain evil ZANU cronies. Thank you.
He must wait when China are hosting.
Thank you USA for denying the visa -keep it up
We have an area of 390 000 sq kilometres to loiter around MUDENDA.
Yes ,yes ,yes ,yes whom was he going to represent , his fellow thugs?? ,well done USA for denying this thug access , because their missions are always worthless to the public of Zimbabwe!
Besides these big shefs use these shindigs to milk money from our dry coffers. The per diems are crazy both for him and his team, secretaries, security, girlfriends et al. Thank you USA for saving us a few tens of thousands.