The ManicaPost
Rutendo Jiri
Correspondent
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s decision to virtually attend the 2021 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has left opposition supporters and critics stunned.
In a move that has silenced critics, Deputy Chief Secretary, Presidential Communications, Mr George Charamba recently released a presser to the effect that President Mnangagwa would virtually attend the 2021 UNGA, a move that protects the nation from mutating foreign Covid-19 variants in the unforeseen event that the President, his delegation and aides contracts the virus while abroad.
“In light of the continuing Covid-19 global threat, and to allow for the consolidation of reforms and recovery of our economy whose fundamentals are pointing in a positive trajectory, His Excellency the President, Dr E.D Mnangagwa, has this year decided not to attend the United National General Assembly in person. Instead, he will attend virtually via video conferencing,” said Mr Charamba.
The President’s decision to virtually attend the UNGA meeting has disappointed his critics in the opposition MDC Alliance and G-40 remnants who were hoping he would physically attend the meeting in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic so that they could criticise him for being insincere and wasting public funds on international travel in the midst of a pandemic.
Being the Statesman he is, President Mnangagwa chose to virtually attend the meeting and also focus on economic reforms to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“The organisers of the UN Assembly had recommended a hybrid assembly where member states had option to either physically attend through country delegations or virtually through online platforms,” said Mr Charamba.
Former President, Cde Robert Mugabe used to attend such annual international gatherings with a delegation of between 60 and 80 people who would cash in on the United States of America dollars.
However, the New Dispensation has drastically cut down on unnecessary foreign travel which has saved the country a lot of foreign currency which can be diverted to infrastructure development.
Some of the Second Republic’s critics such as well-known G-40 member and former Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mr Walter Mzembi, applauded the President’s decision to virtually attend the UN General Assembly, stating how it cut down on Government expenditure.
“Mukoma wauraya vakomana vemaallowances, they harvest US$10 000 around this time each! Well done @edmnangagwa, this @UN can be attended virtually and is a huge waste of resources!,” tweeted Mr Mzembi in response to a post by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana.
Other netizens were quick to contrast President Mnangagwa’s decision to virtually attend the UNGA as noble contrasting it with Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera who in July flew to the United Kingdom with ‘his wife and daughter’ as part of the 10-member delegation to attend the Global Education Summit of Finance and Global Partnerships for Education (GPE) 2021-2025.
The UNGA is set to discuss, debate and make recommendations on subjects pertaining to international peace and security, including development, disarmament, human rights, international law, and the peaceful arbitration of disputes between member states.
Since coming into Government, President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic has made sterling efforts towards Zimbabwe’s re-engagement with the West as the anti-sanctions drive gains momentum.
The Presidential spokesperson, Mr Charamba popularly known on Twitter streets as @Jamwanda exposed the grand scheme the opposition has for long been pushing, which is for Zimbabwe to be isolated by its friends in the West.
“What Biti won’t tell you . . . , recently Biti was told by the UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe that Britain is set to normalise relations with Zimbabwe, and that the opposition will have to reconcile itself to the hard fact of a Britain that is prepared to work with Zanu PF Government,” posted @Jamwanda.
What is apparent is that, any opportunity Zimbabwe is granted to be part of the global world is an opportunity for the opposition to wish and speak ill about their own country – even beg for more sanctions, just to increase the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans in the hope they will vote Zanu PF out of power!
