afrol News, 19 March - Simearashe Mbengegwi, the Zimbabwean Foreign Minister, on Monday threatened Western diplomats with expulsion should they attempt to render any support to the opposition. But the US Ambassador in Harare, Christopher Dell, reportedly walked out of the meeting.

The Zimbabwean Foreign Minister blamed the Western embassies for going too far by offering food and water to the jailed - and often tortured - opposition activists.

Last week, the police invaded the prayer meeting of the opposition and started assaulting people, including the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai. Mr Tsvangirai and several others were hospitalised as a result. The MDC leader said the assault had bolstered his inspiration to oust President Robert Mugabe from power.

Morgan Tsvangirai was released from hospital only yesterday.

Zimbabwean authorities at the weekend prevented opposition members from leaving the country for medical treatment following their beating by the police, arguing charges of inciting violence hang over them.

As a result, the international community has been pilling condemnations against the Zimbabwean regime that is synonymous with gross violations of human rights. Even SADC member Mauritius today issued a strong protest.

In a closed-door meeting, the Zimbabwean Minister relied on the Vienna Convention to warn diplomats to comport themselves because they are barred from interfering in internal affairs of their host nation. Minister Mbengegwi threatened that Zimbabwe would not hesitate to hide behind the Vienna Convention to declare diplomats persona non grata if they act otherwise.

But Mr Mbengegwi's refusal to entertain questions reportedly angered the US Ambassador, Christopher Dell, who walked out of the meeting.

Zimbabwean authorities were angered by the comments made by Mr Dell pointing out a slip within the Zimbabwean security because the police refused to pounce on his opponents, which is why President Mugabe now relies on the youth militias and intelligent agents to bully people.

He said Mr Mugabe authorised his ruling Zanu-PF party's youth movement to use any available means against the opposition. But the US envoy was upbeat of a change in Zimbabwe and that Mr Mugabe must be held accountable for his irresponsible comments, which resulted in the last week violence.

Opposition sources said the family of a killed demonstrator, Gift Tandare, was forced to bury him in their rural home, the government fearing of a demonstration taking place during a funeral in the capital. But the government said Mr Tandare was buried upcountry following his family's approval.

Eliphas Mokunoweshure, the spokesperson of the opposition maintained that the Tandare family was wooed by the Zimbabwean intelligent agents to bury Gift Tandare in Mount Darwin district, about 95 miles northeast of the capital Harare.

On 13 March, the police opened fire at mourners in the Harare's Glen View, the home of Mr Tandare, injuring two people.

The MDC also accused the security agents of assaulting Nelson Chamisa, an orderly to Mr Tsvangirai, at Harare International Airport while trying to go leave for Belgium to attend a meeting at the weekend.

Reacting to the international condemnation, the 83-year-old Zimbabwean President asked Western countries to "go hang" themselves because he would not allow the opposition "puppets" of the West to create violence in his country.

"We have given too much room to mischief-makers and shameless stooges of the West. Let them and their masters know that we shall brook none of their lawless behaviour," Mr Mugabe said.

Alpha Oumar Konaré, the President of the African Union Commission, has called on the Zimbabwean government to respect the human rights and democratic principles in the country. One way to do that, he said, is for the government and the opposition to "commit each other to sincere and constructive talks."

The AU chief urged all parties in Zimbabwe to rely on dialogue as strategy to nail the country's looming problems.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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