UNITED States ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton has reportedly apologised to the Zimbabwean government and promised to look into the matter which saw Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi being humiliated in New York.
STAFF REPORTER
Wharton was summoned by the Foreign Affairs ministry on Monday. Secretary for Foreign Affairs Joey Bimha told NewsDay yesterday that: “We protested over the treatment the minister got from the US and the ambassador said he would find out from Washington and come back to us. He apologised over what happened and we wait to hear what the US will do about that.”
Mumbengegwi was denied diplomatic privileges that exempt VIPs from rigorous searching procedures during the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
Under diplomatic etiquette, there is a provision that ministers should be escorted straight to their aircraft without going through ordinary procedures for other passengers.
The Zimbabwean government was livid with the US attitude and has threatened to retaliate when a senior US official Shannon Smith visits Zimbabwe in a few weeks’ time.
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