Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya
THE Zimbabwe government has accused Britain of promoting a regime change in the country by deliberately promoting political tensions ahead of the March 29 harmonised local government, parliamentary and presidential elections.
Speaking at the independent think-tank, the Institute of Security Studies in Pretoria, Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya, presented a letter from British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to Britain's Law Society’s president, concerning the situation in Zimbabwe and the need for a 'democratic change' in the African nation.
"Clearly such effort is meant to fuel tensions towards the March 29 elections," Khaya Moyo said in the briefing on Tuesday.
On Tuesday 19 February, 2008 the state newspaper, The Herald published a story entitled, "Britain Steps Up Regime Change Agenda, Pours in £3,3m" which said that Britain has increased funding for its regime change agenda in Zimbabwe by pouring £3,3 million to support "non-governmental organisations, anti-Government lawyers, doctors and other opposition elements to step up their demonisation campaigns."
Many critics had dismissed the letter as a fake.
British Law Society spokesman Steve Rudaini confirmed Brown had written to Andrew Holroyd, the group's president, according to Reuters news agency.
Rudaini is quoted as saying the letter was no longer available and had been previously published in error. He, however, did not explain what he meant by ‘published in error’.
The UK’s Foreign Office is reported as saying Britain provided substantial resources to support Zimbabweans especially in the areas of human rights and democratic freedoms.
"We will continue to support them just as we will continue to make representations to the government of Zimbabwe when those who advocate reform are beaten and arrested by the state police," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
A political analyst based at the University of Witswatersrand, who preferred anonymity, said “the United Kingdom government should make sure that its transparent in its dealings with Zimbabwe’s civil society otherwise they are held in disrepute.”
“Why was the funding not made public and was it approved by parliament?” asked the political analyst.
An email written by the Zimbabwe Guardian to the opposition MDC (Tsvangirai) spokesman Nelson Chamisa, asking whether the MDC knew of the funding, was not acknowledged or responded to.
The MDC’s General Treasurer this week said in a radio interview that Western Diplomats were imposing presidential candidate and ex-Zanu PF member Simba Makoni on the people of Zimbabwe.
Makoni is running against President Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on March 29.
Critics say this statement pointed to the drying of funding for the MDC in favour of the new candidate, Simba Makoni.
Ambassador Khaya said Zimbabweans would not tolerate interference in their internal affairs. "If Zimbabwe catches fire, everyone will burn, this included people with United States dollars and British pounds in their pockets," he said
He also said that the ruling party would accept the outcome of the elections even if the opposition won the polls, in response to a question from the audience.
