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night through the Plumtree Border Post to Botswana. The Botswana government cut its ties with Colonel Gaddafi’s government in February this year.
President Mugabe yesterday castigated the West for persecuting Col Gaddafi’s government under the auspices of NATO saying Europe had always envied that country’s vast oil reserves.
“Libya is ransacked. They have rushed in Italy, France and Britain kumafuta – fuel. Vavakukwikwidzana kuti zvino mafuta aya avapachena,” he said.
The President was addressing a Zanu-PF National Consultative Assembly meeting in Harare.
He narrated how the West had manipulated the UN Security Council, with the help of some African countries, to wage a war on the rebels’ behalf and under the pretext of protecting civilians in Libya.
President Mugabe said the rebels fighting Col Muammar Gaddafi were Western spies who infiltrated the veteran leader’s government a long time ago.
He said Zanu-PF was always skeptical of the relations that were emerging between Col Gaddafi and the West.
President Mugabe said relations between Col Gaddafi and the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair surprised Zanu-PF.
“Ndipo patakazoona kuti hushamwari wedu huya hwava kuzonetsa. Tikati aah, zvabva zvasvika ipapo,” he said.
Relations between Zimbabwe and Britain were at their lowest during Mr Blair’s tenure while Harare and Tripoli were close allies at that time.
President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to be wary of the West.
“Only a dead imperialist is a good one. So do not trust them, it is only when they are dead that you can trust them,” President Mugabe said.
He took a swipe at the MDC formations for whining and dining with the enemy as evidenced by their constant flights to Europe for assistance to bring about an illegal regime change.
Yesterday Foreign Affairs secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha confirmed that Mr Elmegrahi left for Botswana by road.
“He (Elmegrahi) wrote to me saying that he would be leaving Zimbabwe by road but I am not sure which border he used,” he said.
However, informed sources yesterday said he crossed into Botswana on Thursday night.
“The disgraced ambassador left the country through the Plumtree Border Post because the Batswana government sympathises with the rebels,” one source said.
He said officials from the Libyan Embassy flew out of Harare on different flights.
“Most of the Libyan officials left Harare aboard the different airlines and never indicated their final destinations,” the source said.
It is, however, believed that the envoys were unlikely to head home as the situation remains volatile in Libya.
In a statement on February 23 this year, the Botswana said government summoned the Libyan representative in Gaborone and expressed its “revulsion” at Libya’s response to demonstrations while calling for restraint in dealing with the situation.
“The Government and people of Botswana share common ties of friendship, understanding and a common vision with the people of Libya as Africans and members of the international community.
“These ties will continue to endure. It is our ardent hope that the situation in Libya will stabilise to pave the way for the reinstatement of diplomatic relations with that country.”
Zimbabwe on Tuesday summoned Mr Elmegrahi and his staff a 72-hour ultimatum to leave following their renunciation of Gaddafi’s authority last week.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbabrashe Mumbengegwi said Mr Elmegrahi’s actions contravened international law and protocols governing diplomatic relations.
The former diplomat had defected to the Nato-backed National Transitional Council, which is claiming control of Libya.
He wrote to Government announcing his decision and ordered the pulling down of the Libyan flag at the embassy in Harare.
Online Reporter