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In this file picture, French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahouse addresses delegates at the French National Day in Harare where he made a toast to Dzamara

Felex Share Senior Reporter
Government yesterday summoned French ambassador Mr Laurent Delahousse after he pulled a shocker on Tuesday by proposing a toast to MDC-T activist Itai Dzamara who was reported missing since March, accusing officials of abducting him.

Sources close to the meeting said the Foreign Affairs Ministry, led by acting Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe, protested over the French envoy’s untoward act.

Mr Delahousse said in his disappearance, the former journalist had become a “symbol and he would not let him down”.

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He paraded Dzamara’s wife, Sheffra, child and brother during celebrations of the French National Day in Harare, claiming he was abducted for his fight for freedom of expression.

Mr Delahousse last night refused to confirm whether or not he had met Ambassador Wutawunashe.

“I have meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the details of the meetings are not public and not for the Press,” he said. “I do not have a comment on that particular issue.”

Sources said Ambassador Wutawunashe reminded Mr Delahousse of the conventions and standards in diplomacy.

“Ambassador Wutawunashe said if he were a diplomat accredited to France and resident in Paris, he would first of all recognise the principle of sovereignty of the French government and, secondly, he would be extremely circumspect in dabbling in matters strictly French, more so a matter to do with a missing French national,” said the source.

“The acting secretary said here on the African continent, European envoys think meddling in African affairs in an undiplomatic fashion is fair.”

The source added: “Ambassador Wutawunashe asked Mr Delahousse if by raising the issue of a missing Zimbabwean on the French National Day, he wanted Zimbabweans to reflect on the day with a sense of honour.”

The source said Ambassador Wutawunashe pointed out that the actions and statements by Mr Delahousse and his European counterparts suggested the Zimbabwean Government was culpable in the Dzamara matter.

“Ambassador Wutawunashe asked why Mr Delahousse and his European counterparts were narrowing the catchment area for potential criminals in this matter to the State only,” said the source.

“The acting secretary said it could have been criminals or robbers; it could have been local political actors or it could have been foreigners trying to stir trouble in the country.

“Ambassador Wutawunashe made reference to actions which were sponsored by foreign interests during the land reform programme where ‘attacks’ on farm houses were enacted in full view of foreign cameras.”

Police launched extensive investigations into the disappearance of Dzamara and have to date interviewed several people although nothing concrete has come out.

Mr Delahousse said the position he had taken was that of the French government.

“He said he personally had an even stronger position on the matter than his government,” said the source.

“Mr Delahousse said he did not mention Government by name and that he had been the most positive French ambassador working towards normalising relations between the two countries. He was aggressive in the beginning, but in the end he was conciliatory.”

Contacted for comment, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services secretary Mr George Charamba said the summoning of Mr Delahousse was not surprising.

“I am not surprised that the Foreign Ministry has summoned the French ambassador,” he said.

“This was uncharacteristic of him and I am sure the Foreign Ministry sought to understand this departure.”

Dzamara went missing on March 9 and the MDC-T, together with political non-governmental organisations, have tried to prop up their waning fortunes ahead of the next general elections in 2018 by blaming Government for his disappearance.

There has been a rush to conclude that Dzamara was abducted when investigations have not been conclusive.

Britain and a clique of European countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, are regrouping and strategising to influence the processes leading to the next harmonised polls, with a meeting being held in Belgium earlier this month between the country’s detractors and civil society organisations.

This week, The Herald revealed that the West planned to pour resources into the civil society sector and arms of Government such as the judiciary in a bid to weaken the control of the ruling Zanu-PF, which overwhelmingly won elections in 2013.