Zimbabweans in UK demand exclusion of Mnangagwa's wife from Summit

Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom are mounting strong pressure on organisers of the upcoming First Ladies of African Impact & Resilience (Flair) Summit to exclude Zimbabwe's First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, citing the government's poor human rights record.

The Flair Summit, scheduled for June 17-18, 2025, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London, brings together Africa's first ladies to discuss key issues such as women's empowerment, resilience, and climate action. However, Mnangagwa's invitation has sparked controversy among the Zimbabwean diaspora in London.

Last week, a group of Zimbabweans based in the UK petitioned Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urging them to deny Auxillia Mnangagwa a visa to prevent her attendance.

"While we support the Flair Summit's ethos of Women's Empowerment, Impact, and Resilience, we are deeply concerned that Auxillia Mnangagwa's participation undermines these principles due to her association with Zimbabwe's repressive Zanu-PF regime and its documented human rights abuses," the petition dated June 4 stated.

The petitioners raised doubts about Mnangagwa's role as "patron elect" of the summit, questioning the transparency behind her invitation and suggesting it might serve political or funding interests.

"The Flair Summit aims to promote women's empowerment, impact, and resilience. However, Auxillia Mnangagwa's participation is at odds with these goals, given her role within a regime that contributes to the suffering of Zimbabwean women," the petition read.

They highlighted Zimbabwe's worsening maternal health statistics, noting the maternal mortality rate surged to 114 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 - a stark indicator of the country's struggling healthcare system under Zanu-PF governance.

"Her attendance risks overshadowing the summit's objectives and diverting attention from genuine advocates for women's rights," the petition warned.

In addition to demanding her exclusion, the petitioners called for an investigation into the circumstances of Auxillia's invitation as patron elect, warning against the Flair Summit being used to "advance the interests of a repressive regime."

To amplify their demands, Zimbabwean activists have planned a peaceful protest outside and inside the Leonardo Royal Hotel during the summit dates.

"These actions aim to highlight the plight of Zimbabweans under Zanu-PF's rule and to call for accountability. We invite UK authorities to engage with our representatives to discuss these issues further," the group said.

In a related development, The Standard reported last week that British Member of Parliament for Brent East, Dawn Butler, previously listed as a keynote speaker, distanced herself from the summit amid backlash over Auxillia Mnangagwa's participation.

Butler's office confirmed she neither received an invitation nor agreed to participate in the event, contradicting information on the summit's official website that named her as a key speaker.

As tensions mount ahead of the summit, the Zimbabwean diaspora's vocal opposition underscores the ongoing international scrutiny of Zimbabwe's governance and human rights record, placing additional pressure on event organisers and UK authorities alike.