Tsvangirai snubbed Mbeki for UZ fundraising

JOHANNESBURG - Former South African President Thabo Mbeki yesterday remained silent on having been snubbed by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when he failed to honour an invitation to the launch of a fundraising programme for the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).

Mbekis spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said: "I dont have sufficient information through which I can comment."

Mbeki reportedly arrived in Zimbabwe on Saturday afternoon and paid a courtesy call on President Robert Mugabe.

Tsvangirai was scheduled to speak at the fund-raising dinner event, but he did not turn up. Media reports suggested that Tsvangirai turned down the invitation because he felt the former president sided with Mugabe during the Global Political Agreement negotiations.

The MDC in South Africa was not immediately available for comment. Mbeki attended the event at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

UZ is seeking $70 million to rehabilitate its facilities and the function was attended by several Zanu PF officials.