THE GOVERNMENT has accused Western ambassadors on Wednesday of breaching Zimbabwe’s laws and undermining President Robert Mugabe’s government by "cooking up" evidence of political violence.
U.S. ambassador James McGee and diplomats from Britain, the European Union, Japan, the Netherlands and Tanzania were questioned for about 45 minutes at a police checkpoint outside the capital Harare on Tuesday.
They were also held up at a rural hospital where they visited victims of post-election violence and were questioned by officials about their reasons for being there.
The Secretary for Information and Publicity, George Charamba told the Herald newspaper that the incident was of serious concern.
He said that diplomats were not above the law in Zimbabwe and should abide by the laws of the land.
"In Zimbabwe even mighty America is not above the law of the land. We have rules and regulations and his predecessor (Ambassador Christopher Dell) should have told him that," Charamba said.
McGee is reported to have breached a rule that prohibited them from travelling more than 40 km (25 miles) outside Harare without prior clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ambassador was reportedly on his way to Centenary, some 150km outside Harare.
Ambassador McGee argued with the police for an hour, after which he was escorted back to Harare.
A report accused the envoys of "circumventing diplomatic protocol" and going on a "spirited campaign to demonize the government ahead of the presidential election run-off".
Charamba indicated that there were international protocols and conventions forbidding diplomats from interfering in the affairs of a sovereign state.
Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states: “Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
Section 2 of Article 41 states that, “All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.”
"The presence of several journalists from private-owned media houses in his (McGee's) convoy appeared to confirm suspicions that the 'fact-finding missions' have largely been stage-managed to come up with 'cooked up evidence' of political violence" in support of the opposition, read a report in the daily paper.
The U.S. State Department through its embassy in Harare issued a statement condemning what it called "harassment" of the diplomats.
“The May 13 detention and questioning of the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe and diplomats from five other missions in Harare by Zimbabwean security forces constitutes harassment …,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement Wednesday.
Attachments
READER OPINIONS
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 14 May 2008 21:29:29 • I have no idea whether these ambassadors are denied freedom of movement in Zimbabwe.This was not just movement but a journey created out of absolute arrogance and a desire to prop up their surrogate forces and puppets who lurk in wait.Tsvangirai must be salivating.He must be dreaming each night, seeing his hired machinery flattening a government with impunity and sheer power of originality.Once upon a time the UN was flattened in the same way and millions died as a result.The intentions are the same no matter how hidden sweet they may sound.Poor Africa known for its sulking will never believe the danger before it.The doubting Thomases of our time believe the poisoned propaganda that liberators are dictators.What a shame.The diplomats are doing a really bad,dishonest and dishonourable bit of rabble rousing.It is their collusion with the so called civil society, lame academics,and their creation of a monster movements that riles straight thinking Zimbabweans.They have no reason playing monitors and supervisors of Zimbabwean affairs.It may sound ironic but their actions will create more tension and false belief.It will not stop the brutality that might be happening either way.MDC people are ruthless and feared in Harare.Noone can oppose them openly without being threatened.America knows that but they will not be bothered.The visit to Howard will not bring food to the doors of those that continue to suffer.That convoy was for propaganda.It had no other motive.The pictures whether they were taken will not prove anything new because for years we have been told about the ZanuPF violence.It is nauseating.They have an agenda far hidden from view.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 14 May 2008 17:03:33 • They are bullying hosting members with impunity.They are playing big brother to countries that they throttle and suffocate with sanctions and acts of aggression.Howard Hospital is run by Dr Thistle who himself is American, therefore its choice was not a coincidence.How can foreign diplomats openly become journalists and investigators in a hosting country.These are bullying tactics that are meant to forment the fires created by their sponsorship of regime change stooges in the MDC and elsewhere.There is always the danger that Zimbabwe will become a slaughter field because Tsvangirai is being used to stop agrarian reform which will not happen without people dying.There is so much anger on the ground.All this is happening because the American propaganda machinery is in full throttle.Twenty years After a civil war,they are still talking about Gukurahundi and recently Murambatsvina to create demons in Zanu PF,a united party.So what is unity if warring parties come together and someone comes to spoil their unity by continuously reminding them how they fought?They will stop at nothing to ensure the land project dies an unnatural death before it resonates to other oppressed worlds.The ramifications would be very hard to imagine.Mugabe is a facade.Their absolute target is to ensure there is no stable government in Zimbabwe because by all predictions,Tsvangirai will be the most hated person once he takes the reigns of power-if he does.It is certain that his intransigency and lack of insight impressed the westerners and they will push him as much as possible.Tsvangirai is simply an ignorant person.He sits with his leg on a wooden chair flipping through his mobile phone while the country he intends to run is gored and mauled by big brother and hawks.Those that support him are just as blind.If the Americans so cared about poor black people,they would have relented and asked the British to compensate their kith and kin who for centuries refused to let go of their loot.They care less.After all the death of the dozen plus farmers must be compensated by times one thousand 'black baboons',Tsvangirai being one of them.Biti will be good for their statistics OF MURDERED black idiots whose war cry against their black brother was 'old man go in peace.' Whether that sounds heroic or hollow is anyone's guess.I will not be convinced.Never in a thousand years.So when they talk about people speaking against Mugabe,I am not and i will never be one of them.I will never be one of the 49 %.Infact i have become angrier and loathe opposition politics more.They are ponting their daggers at themselves.They can never and will never become anything but Zimbabweans.Mugabe is the father of the Zimbabwean nation.He has seen longevity and we must be proud for him.He suffered 11 years of imprisonment and still walks this earth.He represents that tough nut which the west could not break.It is beyond reasonable doubt that uglier scenes will continue to unfold in our beloved country simply because some of us colluded so openly with those that disregard the human rights of weaker nations for the love of money.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 14 May 2008 16:58:58 • They are bullying hosting members with impunity.They are playing big brother to countries that they throttle and suffocate with sanctions and acts of aggression.Howard Hospital is run by Dr Thistle who himself is American, therefore its choice was not a coincidence.How can foreign diplomats openly become journalists and investigators in a hosting country.These are bullying tactics that are meant to forment the fires created by their sponsorship of regime change stooges in the MDC and elsewhere.There is always the danger that Zimbabwe will become a slaughter field because Tsvangirai is being used to stop agrarian reform which will not happen without people dying.The is so much anger on the ground.All this is happening because the American propaganda machinery is in full throttle.Twenty years After a civil war,they are still talking about Gukurahundi and recently Murambatsvina to create demons in Zanu PF,a united party.So what is unity if warring parties come together and someone comes to spoil their unity by continuously reminding them how they fought?They will stop at nothing to ensure the land project dies an unnatural death before it resonates to other oppressed worlds.The ramifications would be very hard to imagine.Mugabe is a facade.Their absolute target is to ensure there is no stable government in Zimbabwe because by all predictions,Tsvangirai will be the most hated person once he takes the reigns of power-if he does.It is certain that his intransigency and lack of insight impressed the westerners and they will push him as much as possible.Tsvangirai is simply an ignorant person.He sits with his leg on a wooden chair flipping through his mobile phone while the country he intends to run is gored and mauled by big brother and hawks.Those that support him are just as blind.If the Americans so cared about poor black people,they would have relented and asked the British to compensate their kith and kin who for centuries refused to let go of their loot.They care less.After all the death of the dozen plus farmers must be compensated by times one thousand 'black baboons',Tsvangirai being one of them.Biti will be good for their statistics OF MURDERED black idiots whose war cry against their black brother was 'old man go in peace.' Whether that sounds heroic or hollow is anyone's guess.I will not be convinced.Never in a thousand years.So when they talk about people speaking against Mugabe,I am not and i will never be one of them.I will never be one of the 49 %.Infact i have become angrier and loathe opposition politics more.They are ponting their daggers at themselves.They can never and will never become anything but Zimbabweans.Mugabe is the father of the Zimbabwean nation.He has seen longevity and we must be proud for him.He suffered 11 years of imprisonment and still walks this earth.He represents that tough nut which the west could not break.It is beyond reasonable doubt that uglier scenes will continue to unfold in our beloved country simply because some of us colluded so openly with those that disregard the human rights of weaker nations for the love of money.
Omugabe • dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Africa for Africans -- LOOK INWARD & 'LOOK EAST' ZIM PATRIOTS Wed, 14 May 2008 16:24:30 • If the FOREIGNERS misbehave and show disrespect of Zimbabweans, then they should be shown the door!
Zimbabweans and Africans in general cannot go to these people's country and behave in the manner in which the colonialists and their PAID APOLOGISTS believe that they can misbehave in Africa.
Zim Patriots should keep an eye on the FOREIGN SPIES & SABOTEURS.
And declare the personas non gratas when they insist on demonstrating a lack of respect for things Zimbabweans!
Zimbabweans should follow the lead of the Russians and EXPEL them!
These people ARE ENEMIES of Africans!
Friends of African WOULD NOT sanction Africans!
The Europeans people ARE HISTORICAL ENEMIES of Africans, and should be dealt with accordingly!
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 14 May 2008 15:47:45 • This right of none interference into the affairs of a sovereign state should not be abused. What are you hiding that you do not want others to see? The fact of the matter is that you are afraid of others to see the horrible acts of torture and murder that you have committed against your own people. This right of none interference will only work if we have a responsible government. Can outsiders wait and see when you are butchering your own people?
Billiard Ndoro • bndoro@btconnect.com Subject: McGee Wed, 14 May 2008 14:48:59 • Honestly I do not see what is wrong with what these ambassadors did. The Zimbabwean ambassadors in USA and UK have freedom of movement anytime, anywhere. In any case the Zim authorities should counter this by going public about the so called violence. When the west imposed sanctions, Zimbabwe reciprocated by imposing sanctions on the west as well. Zimbabwe has a choice of asking DPRK and CUBA to impose sanctions on Tsvangirai as well. Whats so special abouth the west that Chinamsa wants from there? Little did we know he wants the west so much! Added to the list of causes for problems is now Mwanawasa. Hei of all people - Mwanawasa? Very soon all the DADC heads of states will be guilty except big brother? oooops
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