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Grace Mugabe not invited to the AU-Africa summit in Belgium
25 Mar 2014 at 06:16hrs | Views
It has emerged that the EU is pushing to deny Zimbabwe's First Lady Grace Mugabe a visa to enter Belgium for the fourth EU-Africa Summit next week.
President Mugabe and Grace Mugabe are on an EU travel ban that forms part of the broader Western sanctions machinery on Zimbabwe.
Mugabe is the First AU Deputy Chair.
Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba took a swipe at the EU's attempt to stop the First Lady from travelling with her husband.
"It is very strange that the EU has not extended an invitation to the First Lady. What God has put together the EU is trying to separate. Do they expect the President to respect the EU and disrespect his own marriage?" he asked.
"I am aware there is a position of the AU regarding participation and that there are preparatory meetings between the EU and AU over African cases which have arisen over the problematic list of invitations," he added.
He said Government would stand guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Mugabe and Grace Mugabe are on an EU travel ban that forms part of the broader Western sanctions machinery on Zimbabwe.
Mugabe is the First AU Deputy Chair.
"It is very strange that the EU has not extended an invitation to the First Lady. What God has put together the EU is trying to separate. Do they expect the President to respect the EU and disrespect his own marriage?" he asked.
"I am aware there is a position of the AU regarding participation and that there are preparatory meetings between the EU and AU over African cases which have arisen over the problematic list of invitations," he added.
He said Government would stand guided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source - The Herald
