Western diplomats snub Tsvangirai, embrace Biti

Innocent Ruwende Harare Bureau
WESTERN diplomats yesterday openly snubbed MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and embraced MDC Renewal Team leader, Tendai Biti, at a ceremony where former Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda was bestowed with the Federal Republic of Germany’s Cross of Merit.
A senior Renewal Team official mocked Tsvangirai, telling reporters afterwards that their opponents were “bringing draughts skills to a chess game”.
Biti leads a group that has suspended Tsvangirai and his closest allies from the party.

Tsvangirai’s faction responded by expelling Biti and his allies.
Diplomats briefly greeted Tsvangirai and then spent the rest of the event with Biti, exchanging phone numbers and chatting amiably. Tsvangirai sat with Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and left as soon as the event ended.

Tsvangirai and Biti arrived at the German Ambassador’s Harare residence at about the same time but did not get anywhere near each other.
Biti arrived with his right hand man, deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma, who was equally swamped by the foreign diplomats.

Tsvangirai came with ally Theresa Makone, guardian council member, Sekai Holland and policy advisor, Eddie Cross, whom he talked to as his former diplomatic allies showed where their allegiances lay.

Biti conversed with United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton, Germany’s Ambassador Ulrich Klockner, European Union head of delegation to Zimbabwe Ambassador Aldo Del’Arricia, and several others.

Ambassador Del’Arricia briefly chatted with Tsvangirai, Cross and economist John Robertson.
Tsvangirai has ironically complained that foreigners were meddling in the opposition party’s affairs, despite enjoying their patronage for over a decade.
Tsvangirai’s camp snidely said Biti used yesterday’s event to extend begging bowls to their “rich friends”.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said his boss was unconcerned by “petty” issues like popularity with foreign diplomats.
“Zimbabweans are more concerned with serious issues, not what you are saying,” he said.