MUTARE – United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton yesterday abandoned a meeting with Mutare residents after a group of about 130 suspected Zanu PF youths stormed the venue waving placards denouncing America.
REPORT BY OBEY MANAYITI/MOSES MATENGA
Wharton and his team left the Turner Memorial Library, where the meeting was scheduled to take place, after they were mobbed by the youths, who accused the US of maintaining travel and economic sanctions against top Zanu PF officials.
Some of the demonstrators allegedly stripped in front of the envoy while others tried to block him from getting into his official vehicle.
Part of Wharton’s team was not spared from the mayhem and were briefly held captive by the youths, demanding they delete pictures of the demonstration.
Sharon Hudson, counsellor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy, confirmed the incident.
“While the US values the right to peaceful protest and notes it as a critical element of democracy, we regret that the roughly 130 Zanu PF protesters were not interested in a conversation,” she said.
“Ambassador Wharton spent about 15-20 minutes listening to their messages — written on placards and verbal — but was met with no opportunity for constructive conversation.”
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MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Pishayi Muchauraya condemned the protests as retrogressive.
But president of the Zanu PF-linked Upfumi Hwepasi Kuvatema Youth Empowerment Association, Mathew Mundondo, said the demonstration was a clear message to US President Barack Obama that Zimbabweans were against the sanctions.
“This shows the amount of bitterness that we have as youths of this country,” he said.
“We cannot sell our diamonds because of illegal sanctions, therefore we are sending a message straight to America that we are against these sanctions.”
On Tuesday, the envoy was reportedly forced to abandon another tour at a dairy farm in Rusape with villagers demanding the immediate lifting of the sanctions.
This is not the first time a US diplomat has faced Zanu protesters. Two years ago, former US Ambassador Charles Ray faced similar demonstrations in Chegutu.The US government has, however, maintained that it will only lift the sanctions upon restoration of the rule of law.
Last year villagers were also mobilised against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai when he launched a drip irrigation scheme in his Buhera village.The villagers, suspected to be Zanu PF supporters, claimed the MDC-T leader had sunk a deep borehole that depleted the water table in the area.
