Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has urged a new British envoy to help build bridges between their respective countries, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Friday.
”We want you here to help construct formidable bridges. We need a bridge with the British,” officials quoted Mugabe as saying at a credentials ceremony.
Incoming British ambassador to Zimbabwe Andrew Pocock presented his credentials to Mugabe at State House in Harare on Thursday.
Pocock replaces Rodrick Pullen who hastily left Harare last month citing family reasons.
Mugabe appealed to Pocock to report the ”true” facts about Zimbabwe.
”If you report as your government wants, why send you here?”
Mugabe told the British diplomat he was free to consult and familiarise himself with the situation in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe, the officials said, also spoke against the sanctions Britain and some Western countries in the European Union have imposed on Zimbabwe.
He told Pocock: ”You are not punishing Zimbabwe, but you are also punishing your own people, your own economy.”
Most foreign firms operating in Zimbabwe are British-owned. Pocock had a prepared statement he intended to issue to the press. But he withheld this, opting to first study the situation in Zimbabwe.
Officials said Pocock indicated that he would request a meeting with Mugabe after analysing the situation in the country and before reporting to London. – Sapa