Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday said the United States ambassador to the country, Christopher Dell, accused by Harare of ”undiplomatic behaviour” could end up in hell, a state news agency reported.
”Tell him [Dell] that I can’t spell ‘Dell’ but ‘hell’,” the New Ziana news agency quoted Mugabe as saying.
”That’s what I know and that he might be there one of these days.”
”Mr Dell, go to hell,” state radio quoted Mugabe as saying.
Mugabe was replying to remarks by Dell last week that the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe was a result of mismanagement and corrupt rule.
The state-run Herald newspaper reported on Monday that Dell risked being expelled ”for his continued meddling in the internal affairs of Zimbabwe”.
”Alternatively, Mr Dell could be put under open surveillance as was done to former British ambassador Mr Brian Donnelly in June 2002 for continually meddling in the affairs of Zimbabwe and being involved in activities to undermine the government,” the paper said.
Dell, who has been in Zimbabwe since 2003, last week angered Harare when he said its deteriorating economic situation was not the result of drought or economic sanctions, which Mugabe’s government often blames for the crisis in the country.
”The Zimbabwe government’s own gross mismanagement of the economy and its corrupt rule has brought on the crisis,” said Dell.
”Neither drought nor sanctions are the root of Zimbabwe’s decline,” he said at a lecture held at the Africa University in the country’s east.
Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a downturn in the past five years characterised by triple-digit inflation, high unemployment and chronic shortages of fuel, cooking oil and sugar.
The government blames the crisis on targeted sanctions imposed on Mugabe and members of his inner circle by European Union member states and the United States.
Last month Dell was detained by a special presidential army unit after he entered a restricted area in the botanical gardens in Harare near Mugabe’s high-security residence.
Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry accused Dell of deliberately entering the zone in a bid to spark an ”unwarranted diplomatic incident”.
Court quashes suspension
Meanwhile, the country’s high court on Tuesday nullified the suspension of an opposition lawmaker who claimed his party received $2,5-million in illegal funding from three foreign nations, his lawyer said.
”The high court judge president has nullified the suspension so Mr [Job] Sikhala is free to conduct his duties both as an MP and party official,” said Charles Chikore.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai suspended Sikhala late last month for ”bringing the party into disrepute”.
”The suspension was in breach of both the MDC Constitution and the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Chikore said, adding that Tsvangirai sanctioned the vocal lawmaker without conducting a hearing.
Sikhala alleged two weeks ago that the MDC had received funding from Ghana, Nigeria and Taiwan. The three countries have denied bankrolling the opposition party’s operations.
Sikhala made an about-turn, saying he was speculating on the cause of a bitter feud rocking the party when he raised the issue of money.
But the country’s police said it would still proceed with investigations into the MDC’s funding.
Zimbabwe’s laws prohibit external funding of local political parties.
The MDC however has denied ever receiving foreign funding. The leading opposition party has in recent weeks been rocked by divisions over participation in next month’s senatorial polls.
More than two dozen party members defied Tsvangirai’s calls to boycott the November 26 elections to the new upper house of Parliament and registered as candidates. – Sapa-AFP