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Misanet.com / The Standard, 27 March - Diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe have dismissed foreign affairs minister, Stan Mudenge's latest attempts to whip them into line, threatening unspecified action. Commonwalth and SADC amassadors sayd Zimbabwe should instead focus on regaining the confidence of the international community. Commenting soon after meeting Mudenge on Wednesday where the minister threatened them with unspecified action, the diplomats said Mudenge's threats were unfortunate and misdirected and that government had to put its own house in order before the diplomats could paint any positive picture about Zimbabwe. In his latest attempt to arrest Zimbabwe's growing international isolation and poor image, Mudenge on Wednesday summoned Commonwealth and SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) ambassadors and strongly warned them to support the government or face unspecified action. Mudenge told the diplomats that the "people of Zimbabwe will react strongly" if any of them supported the opposition or sent negative reports about Zimbabwe to their countries. The diplomats in turn appealed to the government to abandon its confrontational approach and instead seek to forge rational ties with the international community. Mudenge's threats, they said, were one of the many examples of the poor public relations endeavours exercised by Zimbabwean officials. Said one Commonwealth diplomat: "As for me, I am not taking him seriously. The meeting was a bore. When I came here I thought I was coming for a productive meeting, but then this? My job here is not to demonise Zimbabwe but at the same time I cannot be expected to fabricate reports. I cannot tell my government that things have improved here when in fact they are getting worse. Lying about events in Zimbabwe is not part of my brief. If the minister wants me to do that then I am not prepared to do so. I will continue painting the true picture of what is happening in Zimbabwe." British ambassador, Peter Longworth, whose country was at the centre of attacks at the meeting, dismissed Mudenge's threats saying it was time that Zimbabwe changed its attitude towards the international community. Longworth said there had been no need for Mudenge to attack the diplomats, Britain, or any other Commonwealth country. Longworth said it was unfortunate that Mudenge still believed that Britain had the power to influence members of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Zimbabwe. - Diplomats are here to do their jobs and the government should let them do that, Longworth said. "Why should they be threatened or attacked? There are a number of issues in this country that as diplomats we cannot ignore." - Every time an international grouping expresses concern about Zimbabwe, the only explanation expressed here is that it is Britain which has influenced the action, Longworth said. "There is no consideration that these countries can make up their own minds. The ball really is in Zimbabwe's court. It is justifiable for the CMAG to raise its concerns. We want the issues of the rule of law cleared and explanations on why court orders are being ignored." - Two Standard journalists have been tortured. All these issues raise legitimate concern and we cannot just ignore them," said Longworth. The diplomats said foreign affairs minister Mudenge's threats would do very little to support government claims that Zimbabwe was a democratic country which respected opposing views.
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