Analysts scoff at PM’s ‘diplomatic offensive’

Mr Tsvangirai, who is also Prime Minister in the inclusive Government, was also expected to go to Namibia to hold a meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
His spokesman Mr Luke Tamborinyoka could not be reached for comment.

He however, posted on his facebook profile yesterday that his boss had met President Guebuza.
“PM Tsvangirai had a successful 30-minute meeting with President Guebuza where he updated him on the political situation in Zimbabwe ahead of next week’s Sadc summit in Maputo.

“He is now in Tanzania and will tomorrow morning meet with Tanzania President His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,” he said.
Sources within the party said the MDC-T leadership’s whirlwind tours were part of a campaign to try to sell the party’s views regarding the implementation of the Global Political Agreement that should lead to an election.
Sadc meets on August 17 and 18.

The summit agenda is expected to tackle regional integration and progress made to date on economic, cultural, social and political sectors.
Other issues that are up for discussion include the conflict in the DRC, Madagascar and implementation of the GPA.

Mr Tsvangirai met Malawian president Joyce Banda last week in South Africa where the pair held talks.
Political analyst and former Zimbabwe ambassador to China, Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa, said the MDC-T’s move trying to court support from Sadc was a desperate attempt after the West had begun to snub it.

“The relations with its traditional backers have deteriorated. They clearly feel that their exclusive hold on the West and the United State is loosening.
“They no longer have the favoured son status,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.

“They used to despise Sadc and Africa. They now feel marooned. That will be futile, the best way to get support from Sadc is to identify themselves with Sadc, to be Pan African and embrace Zanu-PF ideologies of Pan Africanism.”
Ambassador Mutsvangwa said no one was going to take MDC-T seriously until it embraced African values.

Another political analyst who declined to be identified echoed similar sentiments.
“What they are doing will not influence deliberations in Maputo. It is just a waste of time,” he said.