THE latest stunt by Britain and her allies to maintain illegal sanctions on the First Family confirms their hypocrisy when dealing with so-called ‘lesser’ nations and people.
Their warped thinking that the people of Zimbabwe would gleefully cheer their stubborn refusal to lift travel bans on President Robert Mugabe and his wife Amai Dr Grace Mugabe smacks of crass intolerance of Harare.
President Mugabe was duly elected by the people of Zimbabwe on July 31 2013, meaning he is our legitimate leader.
The question of legitimacy which they have brought to the fore through their maintenance of the travel bans on the First Family was settled during the polls in question.
By maintaining the travel bans, they are effectively telling us, as Media, Information, and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said recently, that we are a country without leadership.
This is pure sophistry that will do little to normalise the fractured relations between Harare and London.
It becomes strange when British Ambassador, Catriona Laing says her country wants to ‘normalise’ its relations with Zimbabwe.
How does Britain normalise relations with Zimbabwe while overlooking the Head of State and Government, President Mugabe?
It is such dishonesty that paralysed our relations when Britain under the leadership of Tony Blair refused to honour its obligation to compensate white farmers.
Madam Laing must be reminded that President Mugabe is the face of Zimbabwe.
So how does Britain intend to work with a Government whose leader they don’t recognise?
Who then does Britain want to normalise relations with?
It cannot be the people of Zimbabwe in general because Zimbabweans have a Government that is led by President Mugabe.
In that regard it is important for Ambassador Laing to note that it is her government that spoilt the cordial relations that existed between the two countries.
That it is Britain that failed to honour its promise, leaving President Mugabe with no choice, but to empower Zimbabweans through the Land Reform Programme in 2000.
The programme saw over 400 000 black households acquiring land that was previously owned by 4 000 white commercial farmers.
President Mugabe received a backlash from white people and since then, Britain has viewed President Mugabe as an illegitimate leader.
Whites were so bitter that they began their project to remove President Mugabe from power.
To achieve their regime change agenda, they used non-governmental organisations, Western media and Western-sponsored parties like the Movement for Democratic Change.
For 15 years, the British media have in vain launched a sustained onslaught against President Mugabe and ZANU PF.
On the other hand, the same British government has no apologies for sponsoring regime change in Zimbabwe.
While Britons do not take kindly to anyone who insults their monarchy, they expect Zimbabweans to take it lightly when they insult and ridicule President Mugabe.
Not acknowledging President Mugabe’s legitimacy and keeping sanctions on him is a clear indication that Britain is not ready to ‘normalise’ relations with Harare.
The West cannot separate President Mugabe from Zimbabwe because he is the epitome of the country.
Therefore trying to separate President Mugabe from Zimbabweans is a futile exercise.
If Britain and her allies are truthful on normalising relations with Zimbabwe, they should start by normalising relations with our Head of State by removing the First Family from sanctions.
So as one writer in this publication put it, the British can’t eat their cake and have it.