peterRobin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has described as worrisome, the meddlesome behaviour of some foreign missions accredited to Zimbabwe saying it was a violation of provisions of international law and norms that govern inter-state relations.
In his weekly column, the President said the acts by some foreign missions were an affront to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty.
“Lately, we have witnessed attempts at interfering in our internal affairs by some Foreign Missions accredited to our country.
This worrisome propensity is likely to get even more blatant closer to our harmonised general elections slated for next year, in 2023. Needless to say, the Government frowns upon this brazen effrontery against our sovereignty, which is in clear violation of basic provisions of international law and norms governing inter-state relations,” he said.
The President said the foreign missions were flouting the principles of the Vienna Convention of 1961 that spells out their functions in host countries.
He said “Article 3(1) states that these diplomats must represent the sending State in the receiving State; promote in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law, negotiating with the government of the receiving State and also ascertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the government of the sending State.”
The Convention also states that the missions must promote friendly relations between the sending State and the receiving State, and develop their economic, cultural and scientific relations. The same declaration also speaks to non-interference by the same diplomats.
“Article 41(1) of the same Convention clearly states that: “Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa said with the role of the missions being clearly spelt out by the Vienna Convention, their interference in internal affairs was wilful and undermining the country’s sovereignty.
“With such eminently clear and unambiguous provisions in the Vienna Convention, and given that in our situation most of the offending States are not just old States, but are founder members of the United Nations, it is hard to resist the conclusion that the gross interference in our domestic affairs is wilful, and certainly spurred by a gross disdain for our sovereignty,” he said.– @NyembeziMu
Online Reporter