We understand that President Robert Mugabe This is the sort of childish behaviour we have come to expect from the geriatric despot who continues to hold our country to ransom.
He is obviously piqued because the French made it clear that he personally was not welcome at the summit, while leaving the door open for Zimbabwean ministers and officials to attend.
One thing must be made clear to Mugabe he is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Robert Mugabe. It is possible to have nothing to do with him, while at the same time cooperating with Zimbabwe.
The French are within their rights to invite, or not to invite, anyone they choose to attend functions they are hosting. The real loser in this boycott of the summit is Zimbabwe, which is missing a vital opportunity as part of the African continent to interact with the international community.
We commend the French Government for being bold enough to take this principled stand in the face of Mugabes vicious anti-European rhetoric which they must have known would follow. Given Mugabes support from other African dictators, this could have scuppered the entire summit.
The fact that it did not is a hopeful sign indeed.
We support the idea of the international community making every effort to foster those progressive individual ministries that are working towards democracy, while shunning those responsible for continued oppression of the people of Zimbabwe.
This was an important first step in this regard.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga