BY MOSES MATENGA As excitement dies down among President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backers about his maiden trip to a Western capital as Zimbabwe’s leader, images of his supporters wheeling copious amounts of alcohol from a Glasgow shop continues to be fodder for global media.
A video of two self- proclaimed Zanu PF supporters pushing trolleys full of kinds of alcohol as they prepared to celebrate Mnangagwa’s arrival for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop26) went viral.
They welcome His Excellency President @edmnangagwa to Scotland. pic.twitter.com/WrkRyZSl4t
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) October 31, 2021
Mnangagwa in international newspapers!
Today, Daily Mail – a major UK newspaper – covered the reckless ZANU-PF partying and the huge entourage that Mnangagwa flew to Scotland amid the high unemployment and poverty in Zimbabwe.
ZANU-PF is an international shame!#Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/cP7OrSLusX
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— Team Pachedu 🇿🇼 Register to vote! (@PacheduZW) November 3, 2021
While Mnangagwa bragged on his return that the trip was a diplomatic triumph for him as he got the ear of Western leaders that have isolated Zimbabwe for two decades, the globe feasted on the booze fuelled spectacle by the Zanu PF supporters.
“Our country is falling apart…Never mind, let’s party!” screamed a headline in one of the UK’s publications Daily Mail, which has an average readership of over three million.
“Unemployment and inflation in Zimbabwe are currently sky-high.
Proceedings at Zimbabwe Investment Conference in Scotland. His Excellency Dr ED Mnangagwa presented on investment opportunities and prospects. Attendees included Invictus, New Caledonia, and Zimbabwean diaspora such as Benjamin Mwaruwari and Boxer CHISORO. Very successful indeed pic.twitter.com/CPx1Gof56i
— Prof. Mthuli Ncube (@MthuliNcube) November 4, 2021
“And the country’s leader is accused of presiding over a regime as oppressive and ruthless as that of predecessor Robert Mugabe,” added the story in the publication’s print edition, which was accompanied by pictures of Mnangagwa’s supporters pushing trolleys full of alcohol.
This morning, His Excellency President @edmnangagwa will make a virtual presentation at the Zimbabwe Investment Conference which is in Scotland. After that he will participate in a Q&A session. The Zimbabwean Diaspora is also participating in this Conference. pic.twitter.com/Mb9TT9Luhy
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) November 3, 2021
Another headline in the paper’s online edition screamed: “Raise a glass to saving the planet!…
“Zimbabweans stock up on Costco whisky, wine and beer in Glasgow as they hold a huge party to welcome president Emmerson ‘the crocodile’ Mnangagwa.”
It’s been an interesting day. Zimbabweans everywhere enjoy Kutonga kwaro pic.twitter.com/SltVNyOLwL
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) November 2, 2021
For The Times, a respected global media outlet, it summed up Mnangagwa’s trip thus: “Zimbabwe’s boozy COP26 party doesn’t go well at home.”
Another online publication inews.co.uk also criticised the drinking spree while highlighting the poverty in Zimbabwe.
Last night HE President @edmnangagwa attended a Reception with other leaders. Today, he will make his address to the @COP26 Summit. He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with PM of 🇮🇳@PMOIndia as well as Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness @PScotlandCSG. pic.twitter.com/4hlwBLcdpe
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) November 2, 2021
“Supporters of the president of Zimbabwe welcomed his ostentatious arrival at the COP26 summit in Glasgow with trolleys full of alcohol,” says a story under the headline “COP26: Supporters of Zimbabwe president mark his UK arrival on private jet with alcohol-fuelled celebration” read in part.
One of the Mnangagwa supporters captured on camera buying alcohol Kudzai Makuku, who is based in Cambridge in the UK defended the partying saying: “Good things ought to be celebrated.”
Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta rode a bus together with PM Boris Johnson to #COP26 in Scotland.
His speech also had a large audience.
Where are you Mnangagwa?#RefundOurMoney pic.twitter.com/kIFoLtZUhb
— Team Pachedu 🇿🇼 Register to vote! (@PacheduZW) November 3, 2021
“We were buying drinks and celebrating the arrival of our president in the UK.
“You have to understand that success has to be celebrated.
Meeting President of Zimbabwe @edmnangagwa at the @COP26 in Glasgow. The EU stands ready to reengage and support in implementing necessary reforms and tackling global challenges. pic.twitter.com/IHKk12oOFl
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) November 1, 2021
“This is the first time that a sitting president has arrived in the UK in the past 20 years,” he said.
Zvatotanga pic.twitter.com/MafhHqiLyy
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) October 31, 2021
On the source of funds for the mega party that observers speculated was funded by the state, Makuku said the Zanu PF UK branch with over 5000 members mobilised for the festivities.
Mnangagwa’s was very excited about going to the UK. His first and last visit as President will always be overshadowed by these two clowns who have enjoyed more share of media than Mnangagwa himself. Having an incompetent Assistant Nurse Aid as a communicator didn’t help either. pic.twitter.com/k9zMNGTXDi
— African (@ali_naka) November 9, 2021
Mnangagwa flew into Scotland in a hired luxurious Airbus A319-115 (CJ) that the UK media said costs an average £304,000 to hire for a one-way trip from capital Harare to Glasgow.
Mnangagwa hired the jet from Azerbaijan.
Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the extravagance by the Zimbabwean delegation exposed Mnangagwa’s administration.
“The Scotland trip by Mnangagwa and the extravagance that we are seeing indicate the very contradictions of his reformist agenda and the continued abuse of state resources by those around him and himself,” Mukundu said.
British newspapers & TV stations have been commenting on the disgraceful behaviour of ZANUPF delegates to @COP26 this week. ZANUPF itself doesn’t appear to realise what a calamitous week it has had – their true nature has been on the world’s stage for all to see @UKinZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/WZVE0UCUIh
— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) November 6, 2021
“For a country struggling on many fronts, one would expect people to be more cautious in terms of how they use state resources but as you can see, there is absolutely no interest by this government to be more prudent in terms of resource utilisation and this is a sad part of what the ordinary person knows that there is huge abuse of resources within the government.
Even British TV programs such as “Have I got news for you” have commented on the disgusting behaviour of ZANUPF delegates at @COP26 . This is what happens if you only allow 1 TV station – your own – to operate: you think the world isn’t able to watch your thuggery, but it is. pic.twitter.com/42X9hyY2RA
— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) November 6, 2021
“Some of these foreign trips are nothing more than just an opportunity to milk the Treasury, moreso looking at the tens and tens of people who have no slightest idea of why they are in Scotland, but now they are part of the trip by the head of state.”
MDC Alliance treasurer David Coltart said Mnangagwa’s team was recklessly extravagant in the use of resources.
It is alleged that a 130 #Zimbabwe Govt delegation travelled to Scotland. It would be useful to do a comparison – eg how many people went with @HHichilema . Perhaps @joseph_kalimbwe can advise. Also we note @CyrilRamaphosa didn't travel but how many were in the SA delegation? https://t.co/HXgCs1k48W
— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) November 9, 2021
“We can safely reach two conclusions regarding Zanu PF’s performance at @COP26.
“The Zimbabwean delegation was shamefully and embarrassingly profligate and Mnangagwa’s actions were viewed in sharp and critical contrast against (Zambian President Hakainde) Hichilema,” Coltart tweeted.
Hichilema was praised for travelling by a commercial flight to Glasgow with a lean delegation.
President @HHichilema travelled to UK on a passenger plane, but managed to attract lots of investors.
On the contrary, Mr. Mnangagwa hired a million-dollar private jet, but he came back home with nothing.
Well done @HHichilema. Well done Zambia.#RegisterToVoteZW pic.twitter.com/jZ5LWr4iEQ
— Team Pachedu 🇿🇼 Register to vote! (@PacheduZW) November 5, 2021
The Zambian leader also struck deals worth billions of dollars for his country.
