Africa News
Zimbabwe's official newspaper warns British diplomat
Apr 3, 2007, 9:07 GMT
Harare/Johannesburg - A state-controlled newspaper in Zimbabwe on Tuesday warned that the spokeswoman for the British embassy could be sent back to Britain in a body bag for allegedly supporting the main opposition party.
An editorial writer claimed in the Herald's main opinion article that Gillian Dare was a prime target for deportation and warned she could get caught in crossfire by supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
'It will be a pity for her family to welcome her at Heathrow airport in a body bag just like some of her colleagues from Iraq and Afghanistan,' the article written by David Samuriwo said.
Since the March 11 crackdown against the MDC, which saw scores of opposition activists arrested and severely assaulted in police custody, Western diplomats have closely followed the court appearances of those detained, including MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Their show of concern has infuriated President Robert Mugabe's government. The 83-year-old leader threatened to expel them.
And last month the foreign minister said the concern shown by Western diplomats for detained activists amounted to unwarranted political interference in Zimbabwe's internal affairs.
The Herald alleged that Dare was the purse-holder and financier of the violence being perpetrated by the MDC and was recruiting journalists both in and outside Zimbabwe to write articles denigrating Mugabe and his government.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Will - SydneyApr 3rd, 2007 - 10:18:56
It is interesting that the state press would carry this obviously provocative article now. It indicates to me that Mugabe has no intention off letting up the pressure on the opposition and its percieved handlers, he is building his base of storm troopers, first to be used to finally smash the MDC and then turn them on his internal rivals. He still plans to engineer his succession and maintaian his Zanu-PF paty's exclusive grip on power.
The current 'informed analysis' in Africa of the recent events in Zimbabwe and the subsequent SADC meeting is pushing a pretty consistant line. This is that behind the scenes Mugabe was read the riot act and the the public statements of support given to him afterwards were a sop to 'the old man's' pride. According to this scenario Mbeki will rapidly bring the various players to the table and they will reach an agreement to compete in an environment for free and fair elections in 2008. All will be well on its way to normality after that and the 'international community' will implement a 5 point plan proposed by the US and UK to rehabilitate Zimbabwe.
What militates against that expectation is that there is every indication that the systematic hunting down beating of oppostion activists and those that the share their homes with has accelerated since Mugabe's return from Tanzania.
Immediately upon his return he successfully orchestrated his nomination for next presidential election by aclimation from a well organised support group bussed in for the occasion.
In order to get the numbers for this overwhelming demonstation of support he his reported to have switched sides once again between the two main internal factions of his party. This appears to set the stage for a confrontation between Zanu-PF factions that used the Police and CIO on one side and the Army on the other in the fight to succeed Mugabe.
The heat is on and diplomats may well suffer if found in the company of opposition politicians off diplomatic turf.
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