via Govt plays ‘sympathy card’ in Mumbengegwi diplomatic row | SW Radio Africa by Nomalanga Moyo on Tuesday, October 8, 2013
ZANU PF has been accused of “playing the sympathy card” in the ongoing diplomatic tiff over the perceived humiliation of Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi in Washington last week.
The ‘humiliation’ involved Mumbengegwi being forced to go through airport security like all other ordinary passengers, despite applying for the VIP service from the US Department of State, which was reportedly granted.
However, officers at the airport entrance claimed that they had no instructions to extend any diplomatic privileges to the minister and treated him as a common traveller, subjecting him to a thorough body search.
Following the incident, the government last week summoned American envoy to Zimbabwe, Bruce Wharton, to explain this “degrading experience.”
“We have called him for explanations,” Joey Bimha, secretary for Foreign Affairs, told the Daily News newspaper Monday.
Other ZANU PF officials are already calling for retaliatory treatment on the US deputy assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, who is expected in Zim next week.
But observers have dismissed this as just talk. Political commentator Rejoice Ngwenya said he did not understand why Mumbengegwi would expect preferential treatment anyway.
“Personally I believe there is nothing really special about a foreign affairs minister. These diplomatic privileges are just fringe benefits that are extended to these officials that don’t really mean much.
“We know that there is bad blood between Zimbabwe and the US and this is just an extension of that narrative especially after what Mugabe said at the UN meeting and the US’s refusal to recognise the outcome of the July 31st elections.
“This is just public relations for the Zim government who are playing the sympathy card and trying to find any reason to poke the American government,” Ngwenya said.
He added that the government should be strengthening its engagement efforts with the West rather than making headlines with trivial complaints about being treated as commoners.
Former education minister David Coltart shared Ngwenya’s sentiments and in a post on his Facebook Wall, said: “Not sure what all the fuss is about here – as a Minister I always went through security checks at foreign airports.”
COMMENTS
Kkkkkk thats good fun, I have been through those body searches at least I am thin its better.Manje aMubengegwi with that fat body it must have been rigorous those USA junior officers put on rubbergloves and ask you to bend over.They will poke as deep as they can into the anus to check for stuff. In Mubengegwi’s case maybe diamonds, and they dont forget to squize the balls as well in case one has stuffed things in there as well.I suppose they had a hard time searching especially if Mubengegwi’s backside is as hairy as his chin.I can imagine lol.Vasecheyi vanhu sesuwo plus ndidzo mbavha hombe idzi.
Good one Dairayi! They shld have asked to go for cocaine bowel checking as well bcoz the behaviour of some of those ministers is so suspicious. On return they must search him again. America is a sovereign state so they must do what they want with foreigners like Simbarashe. Vasecheyi even Mugabe naGrace ngavasechwe!
Dairai Slogan wandi kuvadza mbabvu nekuseka ufunge I read your posting at public place at a train station, burst out laughing and commuters looked at me wondering whaaaaa . . . I can imagine them going the saggy belly only to find kekuwetesa kadyiwa nezidumbu kkkkk renga shefu vacheme
So much noise about nothing.
USA was wrong to submit a diplomatic person to a body search. However retaliation will be equally wrong and unwise.
A hand up his rectum probably put a smile on his face
This Mumbengegwi looks like one taliban or al qaeda or an official of this one african one called al…. something. His appearance plus the terror jargon used by Mugabe at the Un as he unleashed his vernomous attack on the US prompted the junior officers to make the obvious thourough check. The American citizens and all those who feel threatened by terrorist will pray that such searches on people who agree with the terrorists rhetoric are intensified whether there is retaliation or not. America is already at war against terrorists and all those who admire their slogans by the way.
What was the purpose of his being there, anyway… just another ZANUPF freeloader traveling to Fantasyland on the taxpayer’s money.
So, how much did his trip cost, and how much did his visit gain for Zim..? How many meetings did he attend with foreign ministers..? What issues did he hope to resolve..? You see, he’s no diplomat… it’s all about self-interest, about self-gratification, and el zippo for the nation.