THE European Union expressed “great concern” on Wednesday over a row sparked by President Robert Mugabe’s reassignment of six ambassadors without consulting his ruling coalition partners.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who is in a tripartite unity government with Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, this week asked the EU, the United Nations and four nations not to recognise ambassadors posted by Mugabe.
EU diplomacy chief Catherine Ashton said: “It is important that the ambassadors be fully empowered to speak on behalf of the whole government.”
Diplomatic sources say at least five of the ambassadors had already presented their credentials, making it almost impossible to sideline them as requested by Tsvangirai.
President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party has strongly criticised Tsvangirai’s move, insisting that it was based on a misinterpretation of the constitution.
Zanu PF insists that Mugabe simply reassigned diplomats, as opposed to making new appointments, arguing that there is no requirement to consult Tsvangirai and Mutambara under the circumstances.
"If you can't see the difference between a transfer and an appointment, and it takes your critics to point that out, obviously you have a problem,” Zanu PF’s Tsholotsho North MP and former Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said on Wednesday.
Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for Ashton, said: “This is a serious matter that demands clarification.”
Tsvangirai also sent letters to the leaders of Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa.
South African President Jacob Zuma, the region's point man on Zimbabwe, sent a team of mediators to Harare on Wednesday to defuse the tensions.
Charles Nqakula, Mac Maharaj and Lindiwe Zulu were set to hold talks with Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara on Thursday.