Zimbabwe Foreign Minister attacked in London, government says he was undeterred

Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, who was in London on a four-day re-engagement visit, was today attacked by protesters believed to be supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change but the government said this had not distracted him from his programme.

The protesters were yelling at him “mbavha, mbavha” for thief, thief with some shoving his security.

The government condemned the attack which it said had embarrassed peace-loving Zimbabweans.

“It is tragic that the spectre of violence during protests we see in Zimbabwe forcing the security services to act has reared its ugly head in a foreign land discrediting not the government but the hoodlums themselves and embarrassing peace-loving Zimbabweans,” government spokesman Nick Mangwana said in a statement.

“The attacks have not, however, disrupted Minister SB Moyo’s successful engagements in the UK in any way. Undeterred, his programme continued with fruitful meetings with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, investors and tonight we end up with engaging a progressive Zimbabwean Diaspora and other key stakeholders, whose support for our country’s economic and political reform efforts remains steadfast.

“The Government of Zimbabwe remains committed to peaceful dialogue with all parties, with a view to building our country around shared values, including the principles of respectful disagreement and non-violence. We affirm the right of Zimbabweans to protest but to do so peacefully.”

Moyo told British investors that American investors were already flocking into Zimbabwe despite sanctions imposed by Washington.

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