Mugabe in Vatican for Pope's funeral

Mugabe in Vatican for Pope's funeral

MUGABE

• EU renews targeted sanctions against Mugabe

• Full text of EU sanctions renewal agreement

• Bid to bar Mugabe envoy from EU-ACP Hague meeting

• Zanu PF MPs' UK trip causes storm

• Zim sports minister grumbles over Olympics ban

• Zimbabwe Minister barred from Olympics

• EU extends targeted sanctions

• Mudede, Mahoso on EU sanctions list

• Leave us alone - Mugabe

• EU to extend sanctions on Mugabe

• Gono met by protesters in SA

• Rough ride for Mugabe's banker in UK

• Mugabe banker's UK trip sparks protests

• Gono beats sanctions, allowed into UK

• Gono to visit UK to raise funds

By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S President Robert Mugabe has joined world dignitaries in Rome for Friday's funeral of Pope John Paul, an official says, despite travel restrictions imposed on him by the EU.

The official said Mugabe, a Roman Catholic, had left for the Vatican on Wednesday night. He gave no further details.

The trip was immediately denounced by one of Mugabe's fiercest human rights critics, Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo.

"That man will use any opportunity to fly to Europe to promote himself. The man is shameless," said the archbishop.

By going to Rome, the 81-year-old Mugabe defied European Union travel sanctions imposed in 2002 after its observers were barred from disputed presidential elections. His ruling ZANU-PF party last week announced it had gained a two-thirds majority in parliamentary elections also marred by fraud allegations.

However, Archbishop Ncube noted that the Italian government was obliged by its treaties with the Vatican to admit Mugabe for the pope's funeral. He accused Mugabe of exploiting the Vatican during an espcially busy time. Senior church figures would be unable to communicate to him their concern at the human rights situation in Zimbabwe, the archbishop predicted.

"The Secretary of State might be rather too busy right now to talk to him, but when someone in the family has died you appreciate all the sympathy you can get from all people, even murders, crooks and thieves like Mugabe," Ncube said in a phone interview with The Associated Press from Bulawayo.

The Vatican is technically a state within a state and not part of the EU, although any visitor must pass through Italian territory. Mugabe said last week his government enjoyed excellent relations with Italy.

The EU, the United States and Britain have dismissed as a charade a general election last month in which Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party won a two-thirds majority in parliament. The EU has promised to take further, unspecified action against Zimbabwe.

The Pope visited Zimbabwe in 1988 - Reuters/AP
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com