If ever we were looking for proof that Mugabe was not behind the ‘inclusive’ government, then here it is.

Mugabe has tasked Tsvangirai with convincing countries in the West that the time is now ripe to release aid and monetary assistance to Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai, being the more acceptable face of the ‘unity’ government, has taken off for the United States of America (he is hopeful of meeting with the US President, Barack Obama).

One would expect that such a trip might not pay off immediately but it would help in thawing the relationship that Zimbabwe has had with the USA.

Mugabe is very critical of the West and alleges that all of the problems that beset Zimbabwe are as a direct result of illegal full economic sanctions instituted by countries like the United Kingdom and the United States.

The truth of the matter is that Mugabe and his loyalists are subject to travel sanction which seek to contain Mugabe’s administration and their business dealings. In the United States, it is illegal to have business dealings with anyone of the listed sanctions list.

“Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai left Harare this morning to go and beg for aid from the European Union and the United States. The Prime Minister started begging even before he left the country, extremely reliable sources have revealed.

So Tsvangirai, even before he flew off, had to request each of the countries he is visiting to pay for the accommodation of his delegation as well as their expenses!”

So, unless the host country is prepared to pay, then Tsvangirai and Co will not be visiting.

And all the while, in the event that Tsvangirai’s trip bears some fruit and he were to return with promises of funding, aid and assistane, Mugabe will wade in and take control (he hopes), with little or no thanks for the trouble that Tsvangirai has had to go to.

Yes, it can be argued that there is no money to pay for the trip, but it smacks of political engineering that Tsvangirai is left begging for money for not only rebuilding the country, but now to have the additional remit of begging for their board.

“Yet, in today’s Herald, Mugabe was already positioning himself to take credit for any success Tsvangirai may have (I doubt it will be much). The Herald did a propaganda piece and splashed large and bold on the front page: “Tsvangirai Tasked”
It claims Tsvangirai was tasked by Mugabe to go and get those sanctions lifted. By doing this, Mugabe may also be jeopardising the success of the trip, which success was in doubt from the beginning.”

Mugabe is placing a huge yoke on Tsvangirai’s shoulders, hoping that his influence will lead to a releasing of some money, whilst also leaving it unsaid what he would do in the event that Tsvangirai returned empty-handed.

Mugabe will, no doubt, make much noise of the failures of Tsvangirai in the event that he comes away with little to show for his efforts.

“Tsvangirai, as he usually does, pretends none of this is happening. He arrived in sunglasses and open neck at the airport today to fly off, looking relaxed and a little bit puzzled that they had actually let him leave the country.

As is usual these days, he was accompanied by a phalanx of CIO operatives, who are now guarding him.”

I sincerely hope that the CIO operatives’ travel is being footed by ZANU PF…

Why should the MDC be paying for Mugabe-ites having a jaunt around the world, when Mugabe is not intent on being any positive part of the cobbled together administration.

Well, no - strike that. Mugabe is positive. Positive that he will not pay for anything that does not assist in lengthening his tenure…

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man