Reports reaching the desk of Africa Today News, New York has it that King Charles III has denied the request of the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
It was gathered that Mnangagwa had in a condolence letter earlier to the king pleaded that he be allowed to attend the funeral of the Queen despite not being included in the list of world leaders that had been invited to the funeral by Buckingham Palace.
However, the King, in a statement by the deputy to the Senior Correspondence Officer, Miss Jennie Vine, which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York stated that the Zimbabwean President’s request was denied over reports of violation of human rights in his country.
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The statement read in part, ‘His Majesty King Charles III, has asked me to inform you that President Mnangagwa’s request cannot be granted as it would go against the restrictions, including those of travel that the United Kingdom has in place with regards to many of the Zimbabwean governmental leadership and those connected to them. There is also concern at the confirmed reports of non-adherence to respecting human rights occurring in Zimbabwe.
‘As you stated in your additional letter, other world leaders, including those from Africa, have been invited and we note your concern that President Mnangagwa has not been invited and for good international relations you feel he should be, however the restrictions still apply.”
In a related development, the British High Commission offices in Abuja, Lagos, and other locations in Nigeria will be closed on Monday, September 19, as the United Kingdom buries Queen Elizabeth II in London.
The announcement was contained in a statement posted on the official Twitter page of the United Kingdom in Nigeria, @UKinNigeria, on Friday.
The tweet, however, stated that the UK visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos would not be affected by the closure.
The statement read, ‘Our British High Commission offices in Abuja, Lagos and across the country will be closed on Monday, September 19, 2022 in observance of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. UK visa application centres in Abuja & Lagos remain open. God save the King!’
Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on Thursday, September 8, 2022.