Angry Moyo rants at South African envoy

By Richard Chidza

HARARE – Zanu PF spin doctor and former Information minister, Jonathan Moyo on Thursday night clashed with South African ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vusi Mavimbela at a public discussion, with the serial political flip-flopper accusing the envoy of “undiplomatic behaviour.”

Moyo, known for pouring vitriol on opponents of President Robert Mugabe, described the SA envoy as “unreasonable”, among other comments after Mavimbela appeared to support the stance that the Sadc Troika on defence, politics and security, is pushing for wide ranging reforms in Zimbabwe.

Mavimbela had said that a communiqué released by a full Sadc summit after its Luanda meeting last week was just part of a raft of issues discussed and agreed in the Troika meeting. South Africa president Jacob Zuma, is the Troika chairperson and also the Sadc-appointed facilitator to Zimbabwe’s political stalemate.

“The communiqué is a political report that does not contain everything that was said by the facilitator in the Troika report. There are a lot of things that Sadc has agreed to do that do not appear in the final summit communiqué, as well there are things that the facilitator must come and do including assisting with the creation of mechanisms to implement what has been agreed by the political parties,” said Mavimbela.

This did not go down well with Moyo who stood up, drawing the attention of the gallery.

“I do not want to belabour this point about the Troika and summit reports because you will recall that after the Sandton summit (last year) there was debate around the issue of noted or endorsed, and it is important to note that, where there is a Troika report, summit must acknowledge it if it is to be used in future engagements.

“To then suggest that there were anecdotes and things that were said and done including jokes that do not appear in the final report is unfair, undiplomatic and it is unheard of. We are talking about the future of a country here. It is unreasonable and unacceptable,” a visibly angry Moyo ranted.

The monthly discussion forum, hosted by Sapes Trust, was also attended by Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary-general, Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, of the smaller MDC formation and Zanu PF’s Patrick Chinamasa. Misihairabwi-Mushonga entered the fray telling Moyo: “You have no monopoly to abuse and lie to the people.”

“Professor Moyo there is something called being a sore loser and you remember we had the same debate about noted or endorsed after Sandton. The report is circulated after presentation and if one has an issue, they raise it at summit and it is debated.

“If no objections are raised, it means everyone has endorsed and that is what happened. You are so skilled in diverting attention,” Misihairabwi-Mushonga said. Daily News