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MUGABE FOR ZUMA INAGURATION

  1. Posted on Thursday 7 May 2009 - 17:20
    bruce
    BRUCE SIBANDA, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

    PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has been invited in South Africa for Saturday's Jacob Zuma inaguration clearing speculation that his rival Prme Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had been prefered ahead of him.


    Media reports from South Africa on Thursday say its foreign affairs department, which is responsible for inviting foreign dignitaries said that only heads of states can be invited and they had in accordance with state protocol invited Mugabe only and not Prime Minister Tsvangirai.


    “The invitations are for heads of states. There is only one head of state in Zimbabwe so the invitation goes to the head of state, that’s it,” foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa is quoted saying.
    It will be up to Mugabe as president to extend the invitation to Tsvangirai, he added.


    “We invite the president who is the head of state and government. Unless the president refers to the prime minister, the president is invited."


    Mugabe would join other 21 heads of state who have been inivted for Zuma's inauguration.


    Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a unity government under a power sharing deal brokered last year by former South African President Thabo Mbeki on behalf of the regional Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).


    Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister last February to open a new chapter of cooperation with Mugabe who remained President, immediately sparking hope that Zimbabweans will see their country finally emerge from a decade of economic and political crisis.


    Zuma who has been outspoken against Mugabe's autocratic rule has said that under his rule South Africa will continue with its efforts to find lasting solutions to political problems in neighbouring Zimbabwe and other flashpoints in Africa.

    Media reports from South Africa say security had been put in place to protect heads of state, but no special arrangement had been made for Mugabe.

    It is reported that civil rights initiative AfriForum has put up posters reading "Mugabe go home" around the Union Buildings, in protest at his presence at Jacob Zuma's inauguration

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