Foreign Affairs chief Simbarashe Mumbengegwi called a press conference
late Saturday seeking to cool down international outrage at the barring
of the group – which included Kofi Annan, the former UN
secretary-general, and Jimmy Carter, the former US president – who were
expected in Harare Saturday on a humanitarian mission.
The Group of Elders, who had attempted to use SADC’s point man in the
Zimbabwe crisis, Thabo Mbeki, to arrange travel documents, were
rebuffed and denied visas.
Annan and Carter had been due to travel with Graca Machel, an advocate
of women’s and children’s rights and the wife of Nelson Mandela, the
former president of South Africa who set up The Elders in 2007 to
tackle global problems.
As the Elders addressed reporters in South Africa on Saturday mid
morning, authorities in Harare hurriedly moved to call a press
conference aimed at damage limitation.
But the effort was clumsy, with government officials issuing conflicting statements on the reason for the barring of the group.
Christopher Mutsvangwa, a spokesperson for President Mugabe’s Zanu
(PF), told Arab TV news channel Al Jazeera the delegation was denied
several documents because "one of the three – Kofi Annan – specifically
was up to mischief".
"He is trying to ride on the back of a well-meaning lady (Graca Machel)
who is the first lady of two presidents of the region," he said.
Mutsvangwa said Carter has "an impeccable standing in Zimbabwe because
he helped Zimbabwe get independence, and was the first western leader
to recognise land as the key issue in the Zimbabwe conflict as far back
as 1979 and 1980".
Carter helped in the Lancaster House negotiations which helped Zimbabwe attain independence from white rule in 1980.
"Kofi Annan, as secretary-general of the UN, never did anything to help
Zimbabwe’s cause," opined Mutsvangwa. "He was involved in a conspiracy
which legitimised sanctions on Zimbabwe which were patently illegal and
imposed unilaterally by western countries."
But there were sharp contradictions with the Foreign Office. At his
press conference attended by a handful of reporters from the State
media, Mumbengegwi was at a tangent with Mutsvangwa.
"It is most unfortunate that the former (UN) secretary-general has, for
reasons best known to himself, misrepresented the position of the
Government of Zimbabwe," Mumbengegwi said. "The allegations he has made
are not supported by facts."
Annan had told a press briefing in Johannesburg Saturday: "We had to
cancel our visit because the government made it very clear that it will
not co-operate."
But Mumbengegwi insisted: "We take strong exception to any suggestions
that there are those out there who care more about the welfare of our
people than we do. Mr Annan is a man of great experience.
"He knows the importance of prior consultations and preparation for
high-level visits such as the one he was proposing. We expect someone
of his level to observe the correct procedure and practice."
Mumbengegwi claimed the Elders informed government about their visit on
Friday and yet the government has been shouting itself hoarse about the
visit the whole of last week. The Foreign Affairs minister claimed the
Elders were still welcome to visit the country "at a mutually agreed
date."
He insinuated that the Elders visit was useless because government had
already drafted a "Consolidated Appeal, "detailing the humanitarian
needs of the country. He claimed the Government and the UN agency World
Food Programme had last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
for the supply and distribution of 350 000 tonnes of food assistance.
WFP officials were not immediately available to respond but the aid
agency issued a statement last week categorically stating that there
was a massive funding shortfall because of donor fatigue.
"The Government of Zimbabwe is fully aware of the humanitarian
challenges facing the country and is determined to address these
challenges, which are spelt out in detail in the Consolidated Appeal
document," Mumbengegwi said.
"The Government is ready and willing to engage all those of goodwill in
an effort to meet the goals and objectives of the Consolidated Appeal."
Annan said food shortages, a lack of seed and fertiliser for planting
and the breakdown in health services were all having a serious effect
on the people.
"We understand that the situation requires an urgent response and that
delays will only prolong the people’s suffering," he said.
As government dithers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced
this week that almost 300 people have died from a cholera outbreak over
the past three months.
Fadela Chaib, a WHO spokesperson, said 6,072 cases had been reported
between the start of August and November 18, with a rise in the number
of reported cases in the past two weeks.
Meanwhile the economy is imploding under an unporecedented weight of
hyperinflation, with shortages of everything mainly basics, including
both local and foreign currency.
By Chief Reporter