Charamba’s damp squib attempt at spin: ‘We did not take Tsvangirai’s Passport’
George Charamba, Mugabe’s spokesman has denied that Tsvangirai was barred from leaving Zimbabwe,he said instead he was not allowed to leave the country because his travel documents were invalid. He said his passport had expired, and had not yet been replaced.
“We are not going to waive the rules for a politician who is merely forgetful,” he said before the travel documents were returned.
He denied that Biti’s and Mukonoweshuro’s were confiscated and said they could have boarded the flight without Mr. Tsvangirai.
And he accused Mr. Tsvangirai of knowingly going to the airport with invalid travel documents to provoke authorities “to secure one or two sound bites” and gain political mileage.
South African President reportedly swiftly intervened and ordered ZANU PF to return the seized passports of the three senior MDC officials.
Morgan Tsvangirai was earlier arrested and his passport and two other senior officials seized as they were about to leave Harare International Airport on his way to a SADC summit.
“The whole thing was going to be determined at this SADC summit,” he said
“We were all scheduled to go and meet with the troika, the SADC organ on politics and defence. We’re not going anymore.
“It was the South Africans who invited us and paid for the tickets,” Tsvangirai said clarifying that he meant the South African government which is hosting the summit.
Tsvangirai, Secretary General Tendai Biti, and Secretary for International Relations, Elphas Mukonoweshuro, were prevented from flying to Johannesburg.
“This is simply an attempt to prevent Morgan Tsvangirai from attending the SADC meeting, to which he has been invited,a a demonstration of a lack of sincerity on the part of the government of Robert Mugabe”,MDC Presidential spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.
“They have taken our passports. This is a reflection of their insincerity. They want to talk to us yet they behave like hooligans,” Tendai Biti, secretary general of the MDC, told reporters.
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on August 14, 2008. Filed under Local News.
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