Source: http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/conferences/hrc2006/four/hrc070315am-eng.rm?start=00:17:15&end=00:20:13

Human Rights Council, Fourth Session
March 15, 2007
Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights- Interactive Dialogue

Zimbabwe

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam High Commissioner.  We are concerned by the change of tone for the worse as we join others in the commencement of this session of the High Rights Council.  We do, however, welcome the High Commissioner’s report, in which, among other noteworthy events, she indicates the appointment of a Human Right’s officer within the United Nations structuresin our country.  We have nothing to hide and we will work cooperatively with that officer should the professional disposition be evident.

Mr. President, some members of this august body, yesterday and today, took it upon themselves to pass judgment on the developments around the attempts to hold an illegal political rally on 11 March 2007 in Harare, the Zimbabwe capital.  The facts, simply put are that the leaders of the main opposition group in the MDC, led their rioter’s devotees in a march to disrupt peace, and prove to their foreign sponsors that they were a force to be reckoned with.  The mob of a power to small police outpost and reinforcements were called in.  There ensued physically violent exchanges and many, including some police officers, were hurt and subsequently hospitalized.  The opposition leaders Misters Arthur Mutambara and Morgan Tsvangirai, were among those injured.  Regrettably, one demonstrator lost his life.  In any event, the matter is now subdued.

Mr. President, we witness in Zimbabwe the reemergence of undertaker diplomacy, wherein some Western envoys pay Africans to turn on one another and this then allows them to turn around and shout, “See how savage the Africans are.”  The people of Zimbabwe will never allow paid mobs to substitute the ballot box.  No one will be allowed to be above the law.  While the opposition called their sponsored street thuggery and mayhem a prayer meeting, a real prayer meeting did take place in another part of Harare without incident on the same day.

Mr. President, we look forward to the full engagement in the work of the Human Rights Council. Just to reach out to my United Kingdom colleague who characterized as extraordinary my minister’s statement- what I find extraordinary on my ___ is that is not the way of the extraordinary deeds of his government’s agency in my country and elsewhere disingenuous?  I thank you, Mr. President