Libyan Ambassador Case: Zanu-PF bitter

THE recent booting out of the Libyan Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi, shows that Zanu-PF is bitter after the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, some politicians have said.

In interviews, officials from various political formations in the country told the Weekly Agenda that Zanu-PF has been frustrated by the toppling of long time ally of President Robert Mugabe, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. ZAPU Director of Communications, Methuseli Moyo said Zanu-PF and the now fugitive Col. Gaddafi have been running their countries in a similar way, characterised by looting of resources. He said the party is now afraid of the fate that befell Gaddafi. Moyo said his party, ZAPU, and its military wing ZIPRA, received a lot of help from Col. Gaddafi but does not support his suppression of Libyans.

"We wish to congratulate the people of Libya for successfully taking up arms and liberating themselves. Zanu-PF's booting out of the Ambassador is a case of sour grapes. The party is running the country the same way Gaddafi has been doing with a lot of repressive laws such as AIPPA and POSA. Zanu-PF and Gaddafi have been looting resources in the two countries. Zanu-PF is simply frustrated. Their friend is gone and is gone for good. He is no longer head of state but is now a fugitive. The TNC has taken over. Why then does Zanu-PF want to deny the obvious?" asked Moyo.

MDC Bulawayo Province Spokesperson, Edwin Ndlovu, said it is morally wrong for the Libyan Ambassador to be booted out in such a manner "as if he is a criminal." He said Zanu-PF is running angry and scared.

Ndlovu said government should have waited for appropriate processes to take place before firing the Ambassador. However, Ndlovu was also cautious and noted that the Ambassador was representing noone in the country as the government he represented had been toppled and the African Union was yet to recognise the National Transitional Council (NTC).

Leader of the ZAPU Federal Party, Sikhumbuzo Dube, said Zanu-PF did not respect Libya's sovereignty that the party always preaches of. He said relations between Libya and Zimbabwe may be disturbed by this case. "Zanu-PF has always been saying other people should not interfere in the domestic affairs of and other countries. It is not for us as Zimbabweans to determine how Libyans should run their country. What gain or loss is it to us if the Ambassador joins the NTC? How are we Libya after this; worse if they send back the same person here?" commented Dube.

Douglas Mwonzora, MDC-T Spokesperson, told SW Radio Africa that the booting out of the Ambassador is a high handed and vindictive decision that MDC-T is totally against.

"What we see is the Zanu-PF side of government making enemies with the people now running the government in Libya, which is unnecessary. This behavior is despicable," said Mwonzora.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengengwi (Zanu-PF) on Tuesday last week said Ambassador Taher Elmagrahi had been ordered to leave the country within 72 hours after switching his allegiance to the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya. Elmagrahi told journalists that: "I am not Gaddafi's ambassador, I represent the Libyan people."

However, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Makhula told this publication that Elmagrahi was not chased away from the country. He said he should go back to Libya and receive instructions from the new authority.