News / International
Phillip Chiyangwa blocked from entering UK says daughter
04 Nov 2013 at 17:10hrs | Views
Flamboyant businessman Phillip Chiyangwa was last week barred from entering the UK, his daughter has revealed.
Chiyangwa who was meant to fly his private jet together with performing artists Lloyd Tevedzai, Kapfupi and Marabha for his daughter's book launch function, was told at the last minute he would not be allowed to fly his jet following complaints that he was to hold a political meeting there, his daughter Stephanie said.
His daughter Stephanie who lives in London had advertised the function with her father's face at the front cover of brochures as the main guest of honour.
But the brochures also included Strive Masiyiwa's name as well. Masiyiwa who is perceived to be a supporter of the opposition MDC party never turned up reasons for which were neither declared nor known publicly at the time of writing.
It was only three artists performing at the function who were allowed after anonymous callers reportedly telephoned the UK Border Agency complaining that Chiyangwa was to hold a political meeting there. Stephanie said the same callers also telephoned the hotel threatening attacks on the building because Phillip Chiyangwa's presence.
According to Stephanie, the reason why her father's journey was blocked is because of the threats.
'Someone called the Home Office and the hotel threatening and saying that we were going to conduct a political meeting,' she said. During the July elections she remotely campaigned from her UK home for her father to win the Chinhoyi constituency.
When the event was finally held on Saturday night, the only high profile person present was Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi.
Meanwhile it was claimed that Chiyangwa has finally been granted a UK visa after an appeal and will be arriving in London on Friday, reports which have remained unverified for validity.
Chiyangwa who was meant to fly his private jet together with performing artists Lloyd Tevedzai, Kapfupi and Marabha for his daughter's book launch function, was told at the last minute he would not be allowed to fly his jet following complaints that he was to hold a political meeting there, his daughter Stephanie said.
His daughter Stephanie who lives in London had advertised the function with her father's face at the front cover of brochures as the main guest of honour.
But the brochures also included Strive Masiyiwa's name as well. Masiyiwa who is perceived to be a supporter of the opposition MDC party never turned up reasons for which were neither declared nor known publicly at the time of writing.
It was only three artists performing at the function who were allowed after anonymous callers reportedly telephoned the UK Border Agency complaining that Chiyangwa was to hold a political meeting there. Stephanie said the same callers also telephoned the hotel threatening attacks on the building because Phillip Chiyangwa's presence.
According to Stephanie, the reason why her father's journey was blocked is because of the threats.
'Someone called the Home Office and the hotel threatening and saying that we were going to conduct a political meeting,' she said. During the July elections she remotely campaigned from her UK home for her father to win the Chinhoyi constituency.
When the event was finally held on Saturday night, the only high profile person present was Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi.
Meanwhile it was claimed that Chiyangwa has finally been granted a UK visa after an appeal and will be arriving in London on Friday, reports which have remained unverified for validity.
Source - ZimEye
