President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday addressed an almost empty auditorium at the Climate Change (COP26) summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
Scotland empty seats scenario is a major blow for both Mnangagwa and the government because it further exacerbates efforts which the Zanu PF first secretary is applying to ensure that they re engage with the western countries and also lobby for the removal of sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by America and Britain.
Meanwhile, US and UK remain adamant that the government needs to first reform and respect human rights and freedom of expression for journalists for them to remove the embargo.
Mnangagwa made his address at empty seats during the 9am to 1pm slot.
Over 120 heads of State and 25 000 delegates are attending the summit.
As Mnangagwa was addressing, reports say scores of United Kingdom-based Zimbabweans were picketing outside the conference room, denouncing him over the country’s bad human rights record, while others extolled him for his re-engagement efforts in the face of
adversity.
However, this is not the first time Mnangagwa has addressed an empty auditorium. In September 2019, he addressed a near empty 1 800-seater auditorium at the 74th United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
It is not customary that State Presidents would address packed auditoriums as many leaders would be following proceedings from other venues or attending other ongoing events elsewhere.
In his address yesterday, Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was battling the effects of climate change which had resulted in severe droughts and cyclone-induced floods.
“It is most unfortunate that the impact of climate change is disproportionately borne by vulnerable communities that have contributed the least to the current stock of atmospheric carbon,” he said.
