By Leopold Munhende

ZANU PF Director of Information Tafadzwa Mugwadi Wednesday reacted angrily to calls by the United Kingdom (UK) MPs for Harare to uphold the rule of law and stop political persecution.

In the House of Lords Tuesday, the UK MPs expressed concern over the declining political situation in Zimbabwe, and the continued incarceration of MDC Alliance youth activist, Makomborero Haruzivishe at the Harare Remand Prison.

The UK legislators said the human rights violations were seriously affecting Zimbabwe’s international re-engagement process, including rejoining the Commonwealth, a grouping of mostly former British colonies.

However, Mugwadi, who has in the past had altercations with several senior foreign government officials and journalists including those from neighbouring South Africa and the US, angrily rubbished the contributions made by the UK MPs.

Lord St. John Blesto, Baroness Ritchie and Baroness Hoey had taken turns to raise concerns over the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe and the recent signing by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet of the controversial Patriot Bill.

“Our UK Government will only support Zimbabwe’s bid to rejoin the Commonwealth when the rule of law is restored, and the freedom of speech and political freedoms are protected,” Lord St. John said.

However, in response, Mugwadi described the UK MPs as “Lilliputians”.

The Lilliputians are viewed as a society of people around six inches in average height, but with all the arrogance and sense of self-importance associated with full-sized men.

“We defeated regime change long ago during war-monger Tony Blair’s time. It is scandalous for these Lilliputians to make noise about a nation whose name they can hardly pronounce,” Mugwadi said.

Blair is a former UK Prime Minister.

“The UK Embassy and UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson must be the most embarrassed by such classical stupidity. Sit down pink pigs!” added Mugwadi.

We defeated regime change long ago during war-monger Tony Blair's time. Its scandalous for these liliputianns to make noise abt a nation whose name they can hardly pronounce. @UKinZimbabwe & @HMAMelanieR must be the most embrassed by such classical stupidity. Sit down pink pigs! pic.twitter.com/T45aaV0DNL

— Cde Tafadzwa Mugwadi (@TafadzwaMugwadi) November 24, 2021

Mnangagwa has been working for Zimbabwe to be part of the international community after over two decades of isolation as it is viewed as a pariah state.

He has hired international public relations to improve his administration’s image.

However, these efforts have yielded nothing since November 2017, when Mnangagwa took over as president after a military-assisted coup that removed the now late former strongman, Robert Mugabe from office.