PM bows out of UN excursion

In an incident that gives a small glimpse into the differences between Mugabe and Tsvangirais style of management and politics, the PMs office said he was calling off the trip to ensure one delegation and a united voice from Harare at the summit.

Tsvangirais spokesman, James Maridadi, said the move was also meant to save on the little cash available to the Harare coalition government.

“It’s a rightful intervention. The government does not have money, let alone the foreign currency for lavish spending overseas when the majority are suffering,” said Sibanda. “President Mugabe should have done like wise. If he really feels he has to go, he should consider cutting his delegation,” he said.

Tsvangirai would have led a 19-member delegation.

xhead Globetrotting president

Mugabes office did not speak about his trip to Copenhagen, but sources said the globetrotting President was due to leave Harare Monday night with a bloated 59-member delegation.

And Mugabe was going to grab one of Air Zimbabwes few remaining jets to fly him to Denmark, something the veteran leader has regularly done on his countless trips abroad and often leaving passengers stranded.

But Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Peter Chikumba, yesterday defended Mugabes habit of commandeering planes saying the airline has always ensured that clients are not inconvenienced whenever the President or any other individuals charter planes from the airline.

“We do get requests from government and individuals. For example, I do not think it is a secret that tonight we (Air Zimbabwe) are going to Copenhagen . we (will) find a compromise within our routes and the intended destination,” said Chikumba during a presentation to a special parliamentary committee on transport.

XHEAD Lavish foreign expenses

The 85-year-old president has not cut down on his trips abroad even after the United States, European Union, Switzerland, Canada and Australia banned the Zimbabwean leader and his top allies from their territories as punishment failure to uphold democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

For example foreign travel by Mugabe and members of his bloated Cabinet chewed up US$28.4 million or 22.5 per cent of the US$126.4 million allocated for ministries operational expenses between January and October this year, according to figures released by Finance Minister Tendai Biti two weeks ago

This translated to nearly five per cent of total expenditure of US$640.8 million incurred by the coalition government up to October and was equivalent to the amount spent on capital projects during the same period.