British say Mnangagwa left Zimbabwe after hiking price of fuel so that Chiwenga could be blamed for the crackdown on violence that erupted

Although President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s trip to Eurasia was announced more than a month before he actually left, British Members of Parliament yesterday said his departure was preplanned and he was aware of the violence that would erupt but he would come back and criticise the violence and the crack down with the blame being heaped on his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

This theory was floated by Nicholas Soames, son of the last British governor of Southern Rhodesia, who ushered in Zimbabwe’s independence.

Lord Christopher Soames was the governor of Southern Rhodesia during the transitional period between the 11 December 1979 and 18 April 1980 after the warring parties in the Zimbabwe conflict signed the Lancaster House agreement that led to Zimbabwe’s independence.

Speaking during a special debate on Zimbabwe following the 14-16 January disturbances which was introduced by Kate Hoey, Nicholas Soames asked: “Does the hon. Lady agree with me that this pattern of behaviour during this period was clearly planned beforehand, and that it looks very much like the President left the country in order to come back and criticise it when he got home, and that this is part of a pattern that is totally unacceptable? Does she also agree that we must make the strongest possible representations to the Zimbabwean Government on behalf of the British Government?”

Hoey responded: “He is absolutely right. There was this idea that Mnangagwa left the country as soon as the fuel price rose, to go to Russia and begin a tour of different countries—not countries that we would necessarily see as our best friends—to try to bring in some investment. I think that was absolutely deliberate, because he could then say that he had nothing to do with what was happening. Chiwenga, who is seen as the person who wants to eventually take over, was very much in charge.”

The British Parliament had a  two-hour debate on Zimbabwe yesterday.

Below is the exchange between Soames and Hoey

Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)

I have already asked the hon. Lady to forgive me for having to leave before the end of this important debate. She has consistently done wonderful work with her group. I thank the Minister of State, who, when I returned from Zimbabwe, calmed some of my enthusiasm regarding Mr Mnangagwa and the situation there, about which she and the hon. Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) have proved to be dramatically right.

Does the hon. Lady agree with me that this pattern of behaviour during this period was clearly planned beforehand, and that it looks very much like the President left the country in order to come back and criticise it when he got home, and that this is part of a pattern that is totally unacceptable? Does she also agree that we must make the strongest possible representations to the Zimbabwean Government on behalf of the British Government?

Kate Hoey

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his years of support and work. I know how much he cares for Zimbabwe. He is absolutely right. There was this idea that Mnangagwa left the country as soon as the fuel price rose, to go to Russia and begin a tour of different countries—not countries that we would necessarily see as our best friends—to try to bring in some investment. I think that was absolutely deliberate, because he could then say that he had nothing to do with what was happening. Chiwenga, who is seen as the person who wants to eventually take over, was very much in charge.

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