Mnangagwa wife's UK trip flops

Organisers of the First Ladies African Impact & Resilience (Flair) Summit scheduled for London next week have reportedly withdrawn the invitation extended to Zimbabwe's First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, following pressure from Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom.

The summit, set to take place from June 16 to 18, was to gather first ladies from across Africa to discuss issues of women's leadership, compassion, and societal well-being. However, Zimbabweans in the UK, many of whom say they fled Zimbabwe due to Zanu-PF's governance and political repression, petitioned the event organisers to rescind Auxillia's invite. They warned that they would disrupt the proceedings should she be allowed to attend.

A key turning point came when Dawn Butler, a prominent British parliamentarian representing Brent East, withdrew from the summit after constituents raised objections about the First Lady's planned participation. This development reportedly triggered an emergency meeting among the organisers, resulting in the decision to cancel Auxillia Mnangagwa's attendance, according to insider sources.

Responding to the allegations, Zimbabwe's presidential spokesperson George Charamba dismissed claims of a withdrawn invitation as false. Charamba stated that Auxillia simply declined the invite due to a busy schedule filled with local commitments.

"You can be invited, but you can also turn down an invite," Charamba said. "Her plate is full; there are lots of programmes here. She will be with communities in Zimbabwe."

However, sources close to the presidency indicated that officials were informed last week about the cancellation, attributing it to fears that angry Zimbabwean diaspora groups would disrupt the event.

Further reports suggest that the First Lady may now be planning to travel to Australia for another engagement during the same period as the Flair Summit. While she has already secured a visa for Australia, the trip faces complications as some members of her original travel party were dismissed and attempts to secure new visas for replacements have reportedly been difficult.

The Zimbabwean diaspora's opposition to Auxillia's participation stems from concerns over the government's record on human rights abuses, political repression, corruption, and mis-governance. Critics argue that her association with President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration contradicts the summit's core values of integrity, compassion, and courageous leadership.

The Flair Summit was established by diaspora women leaders to foster collaboration with women in Africa to promote societal well-being. The exclusion of Zimbabwe's First Lady highlights the tensions between the diaspora community's activism and the Zimbabwean government's international image.

As the Flair Summit approaches, the controversy underscores the continuing challenges Zimbabwe faces regarding its governance and relations with its overseas communities.