HARARE – A summit intended for African first ladies, scheduled to take place in the United Kingdom next week, has reportedly rescinded its invitation to Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, following fierce opposition from Zimbabweans residing in the UK.
Mnangagwa was initially slated to participate in the First Ladies African Impact & Resilience (Flair) Summit in London, spanning from June 16 to 18. However, Zimbabwean expatriates, many of whom claim they were compelled to flee their homeland due to policies enacted by the ruling Zanu PF party, launched a petition demanding the withdrawal of her invitation. They threatened to disrupt the event should she be permitted to attend.
The pressure exerted by the Zimbabwean diaspora also led to a British parliamentarian, Dawn Butler, representing Brent East, withdrawing from the summit after Zimbabweans approached her office to voice their concerns.
According to sources, the organisers were forced into an emergency crisis meeting, where the decision to withdraw Auxillia’s invitation was ultimately reached.
In response to these reports, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba yesterday refuted claims that Auxillia’s invitation had been withdrawn.
Charamba stated that the First Lady had a busy schedule and had to decline the invitation.
“You can be invited, but you can also turn down an invite,” Charamba said. “Her plate is full; there are lots of programmes here. Sorry, you wanted to build up some stories; you lost it; she has lots of programmes and here she will be with communities in Zimbabwe.”
However, this publication understands that the presidency was informed of the reasons behind the cancellation of Auxillia’s invite last week.
“The organisers have cancelled the first lady’s invitation fearing that angry Zimbabweans would disrupt the meeting,” a government source told The Standard.
Adding another layer to the situation, it has emerged that the First Lady may now be planning a trip to Australia for another event.
“The journey to Australia will be used to save her the embarrassment that her invitation to the UK indaba was cancelled by claiming that she did not attend because she had other engagements,” the source explained.
The Australian trip, however, is not without its own complications.
It is alleged that the First Lady recently dismissed several members of her travelling party, sparing only one individual. Her attempts to secure visas for the new team are reportedly facing significant hurdles.
“The Australian government is declining the new team some visas,” the source revealed.
The Zimbabwean protesters who opposed Mnangagwa’s UK trip cited the government’s human rights record and ongoing political repression in Zimbabwe as their primary reasons for objecting to her participation.
Some activists also criticised Mnangagwa, accusing her of various transgressions, including mis-governance and presiding over a corrupt administration.
Zimbabweans argued that the First Lady’s association with a government accused of human rights abuses, corruption, and repression made her participation incompatible with the summit’s stated values.
The Flair Summit is designed to celebrate women who lead with compassion, integrity, and courage, qualities that critics argue stand in stark contrast to the actions of Zanu PF on the ground.
The forum was established by diaspora women leaders to foster collaboration with women in Zimbabwe for the betterment of society.
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