Tsvangirai to charm the British political establishment - report

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who is travelling to the United Kingdom over the weekend, will use the opportunity to meet senior members of the British political establishment and donors as part of a fundraising mission for his insolvent, fractured party.

Although his main brief was announced as an address to the Chatham House on the future of opposition politics in Zimbabwe, sources close to Mr Tsvangirai's itinerary told The Herald yesterday that he would have several other meetings during his stay in the UK.

It is understood that Mr Tsvangirai had booked a meeting with the new British Foreign Secretary Mr Philip Hammond and incoming British ambassador to Zimbabwe whose name could not be verified by time of going to print.

Sources said Mr Tsvangirai wanted to raise complaints with Mr Hammond against outgoing British ambassador Ms Deborah Bronnert.

Mr Tsvangirai, sources said, was of the view that Ms Bronnert was meddling in MDC-T's internal politics and taking sides against his camp which is fighting for supremacy with a faction led by secretary general Mr Tendai Biti.

Mr Tsvangirai's spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday confirmed his boss would meet other people outside the Chatham discussion, but chose to call these meetings "private bilateral engagements."

"His (Mr Tsvangirai's) main brief is the Chatham House address and on Saturday he will address a rally in Birmingham," he said.

"From there he will have private bilateral engagements."

Sources close to Mr Tsvangirai said after his rally at Mount Zion Church in Birmingham, Mr Tsvangirai would have a fundraising event and a string of other meetings, basically in a bid to charm the British political establishment.

"The trip is very broad in nature although it was simply framed under the Chatham House address," said the source.

"He will meet Mr (Philip) Hammond to try to endear with the top echelons of the British political establishment and to source for funding for his party.

"He is expected to have another meeting with the incoming British ambassador to Zimbabwe. Remember, last week he told his supporters in Bulawayo that donors promised to fund the party after congress. He was speaking in the context of the meetings that he is going to have in the UK."

Following its defeat by Zanu-PF in last year's harmonised elections, the MDC-T imploded into factions and its former allies have been engaging the Government directly — a move which the MDC-T factions and non-governmental organisations are strenuously fighting.

An MDC-T official who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of the radical statements that Mr Tsvangirai made recently on jobs and street protests were a well calculated strategy to make him electable at the party's congress in October and to project himself as doing something in the eyes of the Western donors.

The Chatham House address, another source said, was also of prime importance to MDC-T politics.

"It has always been the ideological base of MDC's overseas activities and the party's key lobbyist for British support," said the source.

The source said Britain's hardline attitude and refusal to engage the Government of Zimbabwe directly was not only retrogressive, but also counterproductive to the European Union's efforts.

The EU has indicated its willingness to suspend all sanctions against Zimbabwe by November this year.

"This indicates that Britain continues to take a position, not just against Zimbabwe but to go against the drift of the EU which is looking at suspending all sanctions by November," said the source.

Britain's position has also been reciprocated by the United States which recently tightened sanctions on Zimbabwe after endorsing "final rule" stringent measures that will see the Office of Foreign Assets Control intercepting funds and goods such as medicines destined for Harare.

It is understood the US is specifically targeting proceeds from the sale of diamonds from Chiadzwa, which are in great demand worldwide.