President Robert Mugabe’s boycott of the EU/AU summit have been described as "insignificant" as most African leaders apparently ignored his call to snub the gathering. It is claimed that Mugabe overestimated his continental influence when he boycotted the 4th EU/AU summit hoping that other African countries would follow suit.
A foreign ministry official said the Zimbabwe leader, 90, would not be attending a mammoth EU-Africa summit in Brussels next week due to a 'disagreement on the composition of our delegation'. Mugabe and his wife Grace, 48, remain targeted by an Europe-wide travel ban but the restriction can be suspended temporarily to allow the head of state to attend international forums.
The Mail Online reported that Zimbabwe had earlier urged the African Union as a whole to boycott the summit after the EU refused to lift a ban on Grace Mugabe joining her husband's delegation. Mrs Mugabe is famous for the shopping trips to Europe she would make before being placed under sanctions, and is often referred to as the First Shopper, rather than First Lady, at home in Zimbabwe. Sources said the ageing Zimbabwean leader cannot travel far without his wife who administers jabs of medication drugs.
The summit which is held at Brussels, Belgium brings together African and European leaders and is running under the theme "Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace". It is aimed at discussing issues of women and youth, education, legal and illegal migrant flows between continents and ways to stimulate growth and job creation among other things. It will bring together representatives of 90 nations from both continents, including 65 heads of state and government.
SW Radio Africa said that Mugabe refused to travel to Brussels for the summit, in an apparent protest against the refusal by the EU to allow his wife Grace to accompany him. The EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell’Ariccia, last week said the bloc had not given a visa to Grace because there was no program for wives of presidents and there was no need for her to attend.
Only South African President Jacob Zuma appeared to go along with Mugabe in boycotting the summit, but his government was quick to point out that he was not attending because of other commitments.
Elliot Pfebve, the newly appointed MDC-T chief representative to the EU, said most delegates thought Mugabe’s decision to boycott was based on ‘emotion and concerns for his family rather than what is best for Zimbabwe.’
Pfebve, who was in Brussels attending a two day EU/AU business forum at the beginning of this week, said that Zimbabwe could have benefited substantially, due to the presence of high level investors.
The business forum was attended by leading business personalities across the globe, diplomats, chief executives of multi-nationals, former Presidents of various countries in Africa as well as current leaders on the continent.
Dr Manyeruke a ZANU PF loyalist said the continent should unite and review its relationship with Europe and consider partnering with other regions which consider Africa as an equal partner.
Some analysts also loyal to Robert Mugabe said lack of unity towards the EU-Africa partnership is a reflection that Africa is still a divided continent as it was in colonial times.
They said despite the beautiful resolutions and policies that they adopt, these are never implemented as the African leaders bow down to the tactics of divide and rule by Europe and the United States.
Another analyst and historian, Edward Tome loyal to the ageing tyrant said African leaders attending the summit are doing it to please big brother, Europe.
Robert Mugabe is on record saying the current crop of African leaders leaves a lot to be desired, unlike the founding fathers who include Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, just to mention a few.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF party has applauded President Robert Mugabe for taking a courageous, firm and principled stance of boycotting the EU-Africa Summit.
In a statement, the party said the EU approach of determining the delegation of African countries to the summit was not only in breach of international law, it all went against a binding and existing agreement between the EU and Africa to recognise all parties as equals.
“We see President Mugabe’s stance immensely commendable and consistent with his virtues of self determination, independence and sovereignty,” read the statement.
Mugabe, President Jacob Zuma of South African and President Yahya Jammeh of the Gambia are not attending the EU-Africa Summit.
“We wish equally to applaud South African President Jacob Zuma for taking a principled position in solidarity with President Mugabe and we wish to take this opportunity to urge all those African countries with a clear grasp of history to emulate these heroic deeds,” the statement read.
The party said any attempt at perpetuating western domination will be resisted by the continent and Zimbabwe.
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