Labour MP Dawn Butler withdraws from the FLAIR Summit in London amid protests over Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa’s involvement. Activists criticize Mnangagwa’s presence due to her alleged corruption and human rights abuses. The participation of other notable politicians is now under scrutiny as the event approaches.
Labour MP Dawn Butler has made headlines after pulling out of an upcoming summit in London. This decision comes in response to a backlash from Zimbabwean activists, who expressed outrage over the prospect of sharing a platform with Auxillia Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s First Lady, currently under US sanctions for alleged corruption and gold smuggling. The summit, named the First Ladies of African Impact & Resilience (FLAIR), is set for June 17-18 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, focusing on female leadership and investment in Africa.
Butler’s office released a statement clarifying her position: “We have never agreed to speaking at this event, so are rightly concerned that Dawn is being advertised as a speaker at this summit.” Following intense protest from Zimbabwean activists, who delivered petitions to 10 Downing Street, Butler insisted on having her name withdrawn from the summit’s program. This incident raises uncertainty about the participation of other British politicians scheduled to speak, including Labour MP Diane Abbott and Conservative peer Baroness Sandip Verma.
Mnangagwa is married to Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa and was sanctioned by the US in 2023 due to her alleged involvement in gold and diamond smuggling, which, according to an Al Jazeera investigation, has damaged Zimbabwe’s economy significantly. Reports indicate that over 80% of Zimbabwe’s population is unemployed and millions are facing food insecurity. Critics of Mnangagwa point to her self-portrayal as a women’s empowerment advocate as disingenuous, given the dire socio-economic situation many Zimbabweans are enduring.
On June 4, campaigner Josephine Jenje-Mudimbu led a protest outside Downing Street, presenting a petition aimed at barring Mnangagwa’s entry into the UK. Jenje-Mudimbu made a strong statement during the protest, saying, “Charity begins at home. Auxillia should clean up the mess she and her husband are creating in Zimbabwe.” The outcry on social media has been fierce, with users such as @MilMillaz asserting that Mnangagwa represents a regime responsible for various human rights abuses.
Butler’s withdrawal has placed increased pressure on Abbott and Verma, who have yet to make a public statement about their involvement in the summit. Abbott, a longstanding member of Labour, and Verma, who holds a key role in addressing violence against women, have raised concerns about the optics of appearing alongside Mnangagwa. This tension is amplified by social media criticism questioning why they would engage with representatives from Zimbabwe if they would not do so with figures tied to regimes like that of Russia.
Critics argue that hosting Mnangagwa at the summit would undermine its core mission of promoting women’s empowerment and send a problematic message to those suffering within Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, the event’s organizers have not yet commented on the escalating protests but it seems there could be last-minute changes regarding Mnangagwa’s participation. With growing dissent from activists, the overall future of the summit is now quite uncertain as all eyes remain glued to potential protests and political fallout.
In summary, Labour MP Dawn Butler’s withdrawal from the FLAIR Summit highlights the growing tensions surrounding Auxillia Mnangagwa’s controversial participation. As activists prepare for protests, calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in Zimbabwe continue to escalate. With fellow politicians Diane Abbott and Baroness Sandip Verma yet to clarify their involvement, the summit’s future remains precarious, throwing into question the balance between diplomatic engagement and human rights standards.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
