News / National
Zimbabwe accuses Britain of 'imperialistic nostalgia'
06 May 2019 at 08:33hrs | Views
Zimbabwe accused Britain's sacked defence secretary Gavin Williamson of "imperialistic nostalgia" on Sunday after a newspaper claimed he drew up plans for a military invasion of Zimbabwe, among other countries in Africa.
The Sunday Times, citing a leaked National Security Document, said Williamson "ordered military chiefs to draw up plans for intervention by the armed forces in at least five African countries, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt."
The plans were reportedly for peacekeeping initiatives. However, Ministry of Defence officials told the paper that Williamson wanted to "find excuses to send troops".
They added: "He wanted to invade Africa… He made it clear that he was keen to send the troops in."
Zimbabwe government spokesman Nick Mangwana said on Twitter: "This sabre-rattling sacked British Defence Secretary thinks Africa is still a place where British invasions are acceptable ways of conducting international relations? It's an embarrassment to have someone with such imperialistic nostalgia so highly placed."
The Sunday Times said British Prime Minister Theresa May's trust in Williamson was undermined by his desire to send the armed forces into action, which Downing Street feared could lead to him starting a war.
When May refused to let him send Royal Navy warships into Chinese waters in the South China Sea, the former defence secretary allegedly scrawled "f*** the prime minister" on the paperwork.
Williamson was sacked amid claims that he leaked details of a National Security Council meeting last week about the Chinese firm Huawei.
May was also informed that he had attacked her in private, saying that her diabetes made her unfit to be prime minister, it is reported.
Williamson denied he had ever spoken about May's health and denounced the leak inquiry as a "shabby and discredited witch hunt". He demanded a "proper, full and impartial" investigation, adding that he was consulting his lawyers.
The Sunday Times, citing a leaked National Security Document, said Williamson "ordered military chiefs to draw up plans for intervention by the armed forces in at least five African countries, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt."
The plans were reportedly for peacekeeping initiatives. However, Ministry of Defence officials told the paper that Williamson wanted to "find excuses to send troops".
They added: "He wanted to invade Africa… He made it clear that he was keen to send the troops in."
Zimbabwe government spokesman Nick Mangwana said on Twitter: "This sabre-rattling sacked British Defence Secretary thinks Africa is still a place where British invasions are acceptable ways of conducting international relations? It's an embarrassment to have someone with such imperialistic nostalgia so highly placed."
When May refused to let him send Royal Navy warships into Chinese waters in the South China Sea, the former defence secretary allegedly scrawled "f*** the prime minister" on the paperwork.
Williamson was sacked amid claims that he leaked details of a National Security Council meeting last week about the Chinese firm Huawei.
May was also informed that he had attacked her in private, saying that her diabetes made her unfit to be prime minister, it is reported.
Williamson denied he had ever spoken about May's health and denounced the leak inquiry as a "shabby and discredited witch hunt". He demanded a "proper, full and impartial" investigation, adding that he was consulting his lawyers.
Source - zimlive
