Labour MP Butler Withdraws from FLAIR Summit Amid Backlash over Zimbabwe’s First Lady
Labour MP Dawn Butler has withdrawn from the FLAIR Summit due to backlash over Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, being a featured speaker. Activists plan protests against Mnangagwa, citing her U.S. sanctions for corruption. Butler’s exit raises questions about two remaining MPs, Diane Abbott and Sandip Verma, still listed as speakers.
Labour MP Dawn Butler has stepped back from an international summit in London amidst rising tensions surrounding her association with Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa, subjected to US sanctions for alleged corruption and gold smuggling, has drawn sharp criticism from Zimbabwean activists who are planning protests to disrupt the event. The FLAIR Summit, intended for June 17-18 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, is meant to emphasize female leadership in Africa but is now marred by controversy.
Butler’s decision to withdraw follows significant backlash after it was revealed that her name was being used in promotional materials for the summit. Her office stated that there had never been an agreement about her speaking at the event, emphasizing concern over her name being associated with it. Activists from the Zimbabwean diaspora even delivered a petition to 10 Downing Street, urging officials to prevent Mnangagwa from entering the UK.
Mnangagwa, who is married to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has found herself at the center of scrutiny since being sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act in 2023. An investigation by Al Jazeera titled ‘Gold Mafia’ alleged her involvement in extensive gold and diamond smuggling, enriching the ruling elite while millions of Zimbabweans face dire hardships, with unemployment at 80% and food insecurity affecting 5.6 million.
Despite her portrayal as a proponent for women’s empowerment, activists have labeled her claims as a facade. On June 4, protest leader Josephine Jenje-Mudimbu voiced strong opposition outside Downing Street, stressing the need for Mnangagwa to address issues in Zimbabwe before seeking recognition abroad. “Charity begins at home. Auxillia should clean up the mess she and her husband are creating in Zimbabwe,” she stated while calling for a blockade against Mnangagwa’s participation in the summit.
Discontent regarding Mnangagwa has spread across social media platforms, with accounts like @MilMillaz urging organizers to deny her a stage, condemning her ties to a regime accused of severe human rights violations. Butler’s exit has also shifted attention to fellow speakers, Diane Abbott and Baroness Sandip Verma, both of whom remain listed but have not issued statements regarding their participation. Critics are questioning whether these politicians would share a platform with individuals linked to other oppressive regimes.
The FLAIR Summit’s organizers have declined to comment on the situation, but insiders indicate that the possibility of reconsidering Mnangagwa’s attendance is on the table. As protests loom, the event faces a fundamental dilemma: balancing international dialogue with human rights accountability. Activists are gearing up to voice their dissent, aiming to make their opposition felt and perhaps influence the future of the summit itself.
Dawn Butler’s withdraw from the FLAIR Summit highlights the complex intersection of international politics and human rights issues, particularly in relation to Zimbabwe’s Auxillia Mnangagwa. The uproar over Mnangagwa’s participation has sparked protests and forced fellow politicians to confront their own decisions. With the event fast approaching, the mounting controversy emphasizes the critical balance between diplomatic relations and accountability for abuses, framing the ongoing debate over Zimbabwean leadership and activism.
Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com
